Hieroglyph & Stuttering
Endectomorph, 2025
9/10
Listen to Hieroglyph & Stuttering
The experimental bassist Nick Joz pens his most adventurous album yet, where inspiration from the abstract poet Susan Howe is present across the 12 unclassifiable tracks that welcome Joanna Mattrey, Peter Evens, John McCowen and Mark Gardner.
“stuttering (1)” starts with the manipulates winds and brass meeting at a very unpredictable intersection that radiates tremendous harmonics, and “stuttering (2)” follows with viola stabs adding much intrigue to the strategic noise.
In the middle, “hieroglyph (b)” comes with a cinematic quality via Gardner’s electronic gestures amid McCowen’s ambient clarinet, while “stuttering (4)” flirts with sci-fi nods that unfold via strong detail.
Getting close to the end, “stuttering (6)” is a bit chilling, as Evans’ trumpet and Joz’s cello make an impression, and “hieroglyph (e)” exits with a nearly meditative droning that’s both soothing and atypical.
The acoustic versus electronic ideas meet here with much intrigue, where free improvisation is turned into a refined science which tweaks jazz sensibilities in unconventional ways.
Travels well with: Prawntail- Prawntail; Kevin Sun- Quartets