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| Music,
Justin Harries,
20 January 1999 |
Rating: F4
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Jazz has grown to such an extent that this term now covers a whole spectrum of sounds. We have the squealing of free jazzers, the rock solid unstoppable approach of 'trad' jazz, certain people have even declared that drum and bass is a form of jazz.
The jazz practised by Such is another subspecies entirely. If fact, some people would have difficult describing such music as music at all, but then again, these people are usually morons.
Such is a collaboration between three musicians. Eddie Provost and John Tilbury are familiar through their work with AMM, a 'jazz' band formed in the sixties that took the attitude of free jazz to another level. AMM created low key sound scapes, more of a 'sound making activity' that nullified the melodic content to fully expose group interaction. Provost really has reinvented the drums, building washes of sound that give an impression of overlapping time frames. Provost comes from a more classical background, his elegant and restrained style similar to the piano works of Morton Feldman, and sometimes, with the use of the prepared piano (where the strings are treated with various objects, producing a bell like quality), influenced by John Cage.
The third member Yoshikazu Iwamoto hails from Japan and plays the shakuhachi. The sound of this instrument is recognisable to the Western ear from many Hollywood soundtracks, where the composer has contritely attempted to introduce an eastern feel, however Iwamoto reduces this cliché by investing a whole range of timbers in his instrument.
The album they have created The Issue at Hand is over three hours long. Of course this engenders a whole new form of listening. One really can pop out to make tea, and return not having lost the thread. This has more in common with the later works of Feldman, which via their length made narrative distinction impossible. The music flows glacially, reaching peaks that disperse naturally. The feeling is tranquil, where silence is an important part of sound, although new agers will be put off by Provosts often grinding tone.
Overall The Issue at Hand is a gradually immersing experience, which, when one removes the constant need for event, is partially rewarding. That is if you can three hours to spare.
Matchless Recordings
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