I’m The Flounder
Cure-All, 2021
8/10
The debut recording from the instrumental outfit Flounder, the quartet of David Dvorin, Randy McKean, Tim Bulkley and Clifford Childers are both intimate and adventurous with I’m The Flounder, as they somehow cram both retro and futuristic ideas into the very diverse 10 tracks.
The band wisely place the title track in the lead off position, where bright brass and Dvorin’s spirited guitar lines embrace both blues and jazz ideas, and “Crooked Mile” follows with a busy display of soulful horns alongside agile drumming from Bulkley that weaves in and out of the many grooves.
“Trick Knee” lands in the middle and swings firmly amid Childers’ frisky harmonica skills, while “Persistence Blues” finds an emotive place to reside with its reflective guitar tone. “El Cangrejo (The Crab)” then recruits Jonah Dvorin on percussion as the busy climate emits soulful brass and fluid drumming that’s textured flawlessly.
Close to the end, “Sucker Punch” spends 7+ minutes impressing us with both full moments and bare ebbs in the post-bop setting, and “People Moving, People Standing Still” exits the listen with the album highlight that approaches rock territory, and captures the energy of large masses of people moving around.
A very impressive first effort, those with a penchant for instrumental music in the area of jazz, blues and chamber sounds will find much to enjoy here, and the occasional moments of modular synth, euphonium and bass clarinet only add more appeal to the unpredictable formula.
Travels well with: Dennis Mitcheltree- Nevermind The Circus; Victor Gould- In Our Time