Outsider, Outlier
Out Of Your Head, 2023
10/10
A bassist, composer and educator who resides in New York City, Hannah Marks brings some punk, noise and free improvisation spirit to these powerful 10 tracks that are highly imaginative.
“(I Wanna B Ur) 90s Dreamgirl” opens the listen with inviting bass work and pretty singing thanks to Sarah Rossy, where plenty of wordplay about ‘90s rock welcomes thumping drums from Connor Parks and post-punk ideas, and “Graduation” follows with Lex Korten’s warm piano and Nathan Reising’s animated alto-sax making for a jazzy-punk hybrid.
In the middle, the rumbling and tense “Fairytale” showcases Marks’ incredible bass prowess amid the striking vocal acrobatics via the shrieking, furious landscape, while “No Way Out” is a more intimate moment, initially, that builds into a distinct droning that’s richly textured and busy in an oddly harmonic fashion.
Close to the end, “I’ll Ask Anyway” touches on folk-rock nods and benefits from Lee Meadvin’s cozy guitar playing, and “Jessie’s Lullaby” exits with tremendous beauty and poetic singing that tugs on the heartstrings.
An artist who can remind us of Sonic Youth, Tori Amos and Ornette Coleman- often all in one song- Marks’ formula is raw, sincere, and emotionally aware, and it’s about the best jazz-rock you’ll hear anywhere.
Travels well with: Marc Ducret- Palm Sweat: Marc Ducret Plays The Music Of Tim Berne; Jessica Pavone- Clamor