MZM
Infrequent Seams, 2020
8/10
An album of 10 improvised pieces from the creative minds of Miya Masaoka, Zeena Parkins and Myra Melford, in MZM the experimental artists blend art-rock, noisey textures and modern jazz on this exciting listen.
“Red Spider” starts the listen with unpredictable keys amid some spacey sounds in an oddly cinematic opener, and “Bug” continues the unusual setting with an even more bizarre display of key acrobatics and precise ambience.
In the middle, “Retina” rumbles a bit quieter but is certainly no less exploratory, while “Taurus” offers a stark setting of hazy qualities of ominous and artistic flourishes. “Southern Owl”, one of the most interesting pieces, then manipulates space and tension strategically in a way that few could replicate.
Towards the end, “Spiral” plucks and simmers with mesmerizing strings, and “Rosette” ends the listen similarly, where their meticulous spontaneity seemingly knows no bounds.
Armed with a harp, piano, koto and electronics, the trio birth what might be a niche record, but if you’re open to the unconventional, it’s certainly a journey worth taking.
Travels well with: Robert Dick, Joelle Leandre, Miya Masaoka- Solar Wind; Funk Shui NYC- Shark NATO On A Plane