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Spectrum Orchestrum — Noziroh
(Bandcamp no#, 2024, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2024-09-19

Noziroh Cover art

Spectrum Orchestrum first came together in 2007 in Lille after they met at an improvisation workshop, all with very different musical backgrounds, but with plenty of musical tastes in common as well. Their first release in 2012 was titled Improvisarium III (not sure if there was a I and II before it, but that’s the earliest release on their Bandcamp page), mentioned here mainly to  let the reader understand what kind of background they came from. This latest release, Noziroh, was recorded in June 2022, over a full two years ago, and it shows quite a bit of development from their early hard-core improvisations to what has become a group entirely capable of excellent extended compositions — and yet they haven’t completely left their improvising roots behind, as the six-minute workout “Through Walls” will clearly show. There are no vocals, no need really, as each of the band members is a powerful player, and together they can support compositions that are complex enough to hold a listener’s attention without lyrics and vocals getting in the way of great playing. The opening track, “Black Math Mazart,” is one of the shorter endeavors at just over four minutes, changing direction several times over the course of its brief duration, with heavy pounding rhythms and wailing saxes leading the way. The members are drummer Adrien Protin, bassist Philippe Macaire, alto saxophonist William Hamlet, keyboardist Benjamin Leleu (Rhodes and transistor organ), and electric guitarist Olivier Vibert. The album contains three epic-length mostly composed pieces, the first of which is “Ulysses Sails the 17 Seas,” coming in at close to thirteen minutes and shifting gears regularly every few minutes, keeping the piece fresh and interesting as it proceeds. A listener might hear something akin to 70s instrumental King Crimson with an alto sax in the lead position, with the guitar often playing more of a support role. Two more epic length cuts (over thirteen minutes each) are “Chatte – Vaginolox” and “Horizon à Rebours,” the latter being particularly intense and thematically complex, but to be very honest there isn’t a dull spot anywhere on the album. It’s very evident that this group has played a lot together, their excellence truly shows at every level.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Spectrum Orchestrum

More info
http://spectrumorchestrum.bandcamp.com/album/noziroh

 

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