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Kit Downes: Dreamlife of Debris
ByHere working in a larger, flexible formation, Challenger returns in a more prominent role, including composing credit on "Blackeye," the closing piece on the album. The tenor player has worked with the Heritage Orchestra and the improvising Brass Mask on Spy Boy (Babel, 2013). Norwegian experimental guitarist Stian Westerhus (Jaga Jazzist) has collaborated with many of Norway's top artists including Sidsel Endresen, Nils Petter Molvaer, Arve Henriksen, and Jan Bang. London-based cellist Lucy Railton has released a solo album and has been active in acoustic, electric, experimental and musique concrete styles. Scottish drummer Sebastian Rochford has worked in diverse genres with Herbie Hancock, David Byrne, and Sons of Kemet.
Downes has an affinity for performing and recording in the unique acoustics of churches and cathedrals, and as he did on Obsidian he uses St. Paul's Hall at Huddersfield University as one of his locations. The environment becomes another player, adding to the darkness dispensed through much of the album. "Sculptor"with Downes on pianoopens the album in an erratically upbeat manner, later leveled out, and transported into a quiet sax and piano melody that eventually evaporates. "Circinus" and "Pinwheel" are warmly austere as is the first half of the twelve-minute "Bodes." Near that point Westerhus enters, his guitar a furtive drone, blending with Downes' organ and the tenor, all producing an unnerving calm. "Twin," a Downes/Challenger duo, is a spare, expressive statement; a stunningly beautiful highlight on Dreamlife of Debris.
This album is full of nuance. In its dark and claustrophobic setting, it nevertheless creates illuminated open spaces. The music is introspective and spiritual and can waver between lullaby and nightmare. After being largely absent from Downes' ECM debut, Dreamlife of Debris reminds us he and Challenger are an extraordinarily creative team.
Track Listing
Sculptor; Circinus; Pinwheel; Bodes; Sunflower; M7; Twin; Blackeye.
Personnel
Kit Downes
keyboardsKit Downes: organ, piano; Tom Challenger: tenor saxophone; Stian Westerhus: guitar; Lucy Railton: cello; Sebastian Rochford: drums.
Album information
Title: Dreamlife of Debris | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: ECM Records