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Reviews

Tres Gone — Outertainment, Vol. 1
(Bandcamp no#, 2006, CD)

by Jeff Melton, Published 2007-03-01

Outertainment, Vol. 1 Cover art

The Tres Gone trio has been plugging away in the Portland, Oregon area for about five years, playing various local clubs, doing their own unique take on electric improvisation. In the course of these ten tracks the band’s mindset swerves from stylized polka riffing (“Advertising Victim”) to Ornette Coleman informed Arabic linear passages (“Driml”). The two tracks recorded at a Voodoo Doughnut shop show a stronger melodic funk interplay between stomp guitarist Scott Steele and synth guitarist Eric Hausmann. Another notable track is “Bebop Loco” which slowly transitions into heavier excursion with a convincing walking bass line. The other track from the same gig is a bit more free floating, implying eastern influences and a friendly desert island (along the lines of Eno’s “Another Green World”). Probably the best musicianship and restraint is heard on “Mahaffay’s Reserve” named for the drummer and featuring some well recorded drumming before detonating into a fiercely effective industrial section. The players have some deep-rooted trust in the evolving jams with just enough free reign to pull it back if need be. The blues influence comes through on two tracks: “Freight Train Penthouse” with the band shuffling through a comfortable Chicago blues and Freddie King inspired “Third Merlot” where Steele shows good control of his lead lines while keeping tension high. Overall it’s a good set of jams as the band continues to stretch its legs going forward.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 34, 2006 releases

Related artist(s): Tres Gone

 

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