Graveyards, "Bare Those Excellent Teeth Vol. 1"

The Graveyards trio continue their journey past the last markers of free jazz playing with this, at times barren sounding, clear vinyl. Brokenresearch releases are well known for their superbly understated art direction, but this is probably their most striking cover yet. A bright yellow sleeve holds an image of a set of teeth, looking like a cross between Giger’s Alien and an aging Dracula.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Most of the tracks here appear to be much quieter than an average Graveyards session, with much more space being left between the musicians. This is increase in silence is well served by the fidelity of the recording, this LP sounds incredible with every sound being perfectly picked up. For a band that seems to get lazily lumped into the unhygienic sounding scum jazz bracket, this is an ideal riposte.

The first two tracks are probably the best examples here of this avenue, with repeating warm horn motifs and the still rise of Hans Buetow’s sensitive cello strings. If anyone’s attempting to wake the neighbours it’s the sax, bursting in and petering out like a reversing ram raider. On the few occasions when the percussion does get loud, the snares are like Derringer shots and the bowed symbols like someone taking a chisel to a church lightning rod. On the b-side’s final track these cymbals join with the cello and sax in an attempt to create a single tone, instead gaps and sharp edges are left open like switchblades.