I’m making the
most of waking up early by getting stuck into work straight away and
last week I found it nice having a bit of kick musically to get me
going (Root 70 fit the bill). The last few work mornings I’ve been
listening to the latest offering from Mike Nock – This World - a
co-led group with drummer Hamish Stuart, saxophonist Julien Wilson
and bassist Jonathan Zwartz.
While it didn’t
grab me right from beat one, it is growing on me. But I think it’s
when I’ve been listening to it more than anything. Moody, dark,
sombre - but there’s also a warmth too....relevant to the current
scene, but it’s not exactly “caffeine music” (an exception is
the gospel-shuffle “Riverside”).
It can be quite
chilled out (“Home”) and at this time, that’s not a bad thing
at all. But there seems to be something holding back pieces that
you’d expect to ramp up. Like on “The Dirge”....I kept waiting
to hear this take off with some straight up swing. But maybe it’s a
hangover from listening to the energy of Root 70 lately. Wilson uses
the electronics sparingly. Necessary... no, but he uses them
tastefully, and on “Any Heart” they add a nice texture and
colour. The opening of “We Shall Rise Again” really shows the
influence Mike has had on Norman Meehan’s playing.
I feel I’m going
to dig This World more once some semblance of normality returns and
fancy listening something to mellow out with – sunny afternoon or
late at night might be better than early morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment