Jah Wobble & Evan Parker "Passage to Hades" 30 Hertz 30HZCD14 2001 (50:15)
Passage
to Hades (13:36)
Giving
Up the Ghost (14:03)
Full On (8:57)
Finally
Cracked It (13:39)
Over the past few years bass maven Jah Wobble has collaborated with a number of varied artists including his own Deep Space ensemble (see also "Beach Fervour Spare"), Molam Lao members (see also "Molam Dub"), a brief stint in post-rock outfit the Damage Manual and here virtuoso saxophonist Evan Parker. "Passage to Hades" consists of four 9 to 14 minute tracks combining trademark Wobble band hypnotic world-dub groove with Parker's circular breathing, free jazz abstract soundscaping. The title track settles into a smooth, lumbering bass line and sticks with it as Parker gently drones in tenor and Deep Space members Clive Bell and Jean-Pierre Rasle add flirtations of Thai pi saw flute, harmonica and bagpipes. "Giving Up the Ghost" varies the tempo more by fading Wobble and drummer Mark Sanders out a few times and back in at a different pace. Parker flutters and squawks in soprano, taking on a shimmering quality as notes are swallowed up and fed back through the mix. "Full On" features the most aggressive bass workout but Bell's stereo goathorns are a bit too overbearing thus, unfortunately, dominating the track. And on "Finally Cracked It", Sanders lays down a mildly funky rock rhythm for Wobble's rigorous bass line to lock into. Parker is in exceptional form here layering tenor drones and darting in and out with pretty reverberated riffs. Altogether, "Passage to Hades" is another successful collaboration for Wobble with predictable but beautiful results. It seems that most anything and everything works well with Wobble's low end led liaisons. Jah Wobble and Deep Space will tour major US cities in May ...
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via Forced Exposure.