Laugh Ash
Pyroclastic, 2024
10/10
The drummer and composer Ches Smith brings a wealth of diverse influences to these unpredictable 9 tracks that welcome an excellent ensemble for the avant-garde affair.
The rich and mysterious “Minimalism” begins the listen, and injects Shara Lunon’s distinct voice into Smith’s buzzing electronics and the bright winds, and “Remote Convivial” follows with Anna Webber’s flowing flute that complements the adventurous drumming from Smith.
Further along, the textured “Shaken, Stirred Silence” put a unique spin on minimalism, where Shahzad Ismaily’s cozy bass is met with expressive, wordless singing that embraces beats, too, while “The Most Fucked” is an abstract take on electro-pop meets chamber-rock, where plenty of hip-hop ideas reside as well.
Close to the end, “Disco Inferred” focuses much on James Brandon Lewis’ atypical sax bouts, Nate Wooley’s animated trumpet and Oscar Noriega’s clarinet acrobatics for the album’s best, and “Exit Shivers” finishes with an experimental approach to jazz that flirts with doom metal and iconoclastic forms of classical song craft.
Smith handles electronics, programming, vibes, drums, tubular bells, glockenspiel, timpani, tam tam, and metal percussion, and the superb cast he’s with help flesh out this truly unclassifiable listening experience that you’ll be in awe of.
Travels well with: Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio- Jet Black; Aline Homzy- Éclipse