Italian Singer Boris Savoldelli has teamed up with guitarist Elliott Sharp for this foray into what can best be described as psychotic electronic jazz with Area undertones. The first track sets the scene with its swirling sound effects and cheese-grater guitar creations, supplemented menacingly by Savoldelli's guttural growls and percussive stabs. This is the first of 10 improvisations entirely created without overdubs in Sharp's studio. The pips and squeaks of "Noises in my head" bounce around to an even wilder vocal range by Savoldelli with Stratos-like yodelling and insanely demonic, electronically distorted, whimpering in this short but riveting piece. There's a psychedelic early Floyd (maybe Ummagumma period) or Gong sensibility to the next piece which becomes quite melodic and soothing at times but always with a feeling of restrained chaos in the background electronics and random guitar notes.
A number of shorter pieces follow. "Black Floyd" is a volcanic explosion of weird electronic strafing underpinning the connection to the other coloured one of whom we were reminded in the previous track whilst the short and eerie "Reflective mind" is followed by the more sedate "Nostalghia" with its cloisters-like quality and suppressed nervous energy which leaks through toward the end. "A meeting in a park" completes the quartet of shorter works with a mainly vocal piece from Savoldelli in the upper registers.
The bass-heavy "Khaotic Life" starts with an intense electronic loop and vocal meanderings that Gong's Shakti Yoni would be content with. The intense crescendo of ear splitting electronics and excruciating guitar chords dominates the world in this nightmarish vision. "Prelude to Biocosmos part 2" returns to the church choir vocal style with gentle organ and electronic support and is developed well into a spacey exploration. The longest track "Dig it" clocks in at 11 minutes and features wild sax and a veritable dog-pack of instruments, effects and voices which gradually untangle from the opening mayhem. One moment doom-laden churning, the next screaming guitar chords provide a neurotic base for the electronics and wind instruments which pepper the piece intermittently. A slow-paced middle section provides welcome relief giving Savoldelli the chance to compete with Sharp's clarinet in pitch-battle.
Fans of avant-garde jazz and vocal acrobatics should lap this up as it really is a very effective and intense set of improvisations with the phrase mind-blowing constantly centre stage. For those with more melodic sensibilities, avoid like the plague.
Track Listing
1. A-Quantic
2. Noises in my head
3. Prelude to Biocosmos part 1
4. Black Floyd
5. Reflective mind
6. Nostalghia
7. A meeting in a park
8. Khaotic life
9. Prelude to Biocosmos part 2
10. Dig it
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