Australian quartet The Vampires have been around for some years and previously collaborated on an album with guitarist Lionel Loueke. Here their guest is Chris Abrahams, pianist with The Necks, which brings in an improvisational quality, but without the electronic minimalism usually associated with that group.
There’s an atmospheric presence to much of the music (not in an icily minimalist way but with warmth), the musicians creating textures interwoven with the solos and with the close unison of the horns. The compositions have resolution, a purposefulness that leaves nothing hanging in the air.
From the first track, Game Changers, a relaxed modal character is established, although this is deceptive in its understatement as individual contributions are made, particularly the subtly effective trumpet of Nick Garbett. The rhythmic pulse of drums and piano being slightly behind the melody creates an unsettling mood, a feature heard elsewhere, notably on Garbett’s reggae-based Ortigara.
Jeremy Rose impresses, with his rich, mellow tenor on Game Changers, whilst on Khan Shatyr he adopts a more expansive approach although retaining control as his horn blends with Garbett’s breathy trumpet. On Na Pali he works around the trumpeter’s lines, and the two combine forcefully on Evergreen. He switches to bass clarinet on High Plains, the deep earthy tone lending itself well to Abraham’s clear, lilting piano introduction, as it does in tandem with Garbett on Waves.
Abraham varies his approach, whether it’s the percussive riffing and bubbling piano in the African-influenced Khan Shatyr or the mood-creating synthesizer and insidious current running through Waves. Both bassist Noel Mason and drummer Alex Masso constantly show their presence, Masso masterful on the uptempo Middle Eastern-flavoured Evergreen, insistent on Na Pali; Mason’s melodic line directs Khan Shatyr and Nightjar is a vehicle for his electric bass as it changes up a gear for Rose’s slight atonality and Garbett’s clear, concise trumpet.
The album’s character is epitomised by Sun Gazers, the haunting, plaintive horns adroitly supported by whispering bass, piano droplets and shimmering brushwork before a layer of sound takes it to further levels of melody and feeling; it’s thoughtful and soothing and avoids excessive embellishment.
Discography
Game Changers; Khan Shatyr; Waves; Ortigara; Ortigara interlude; Na Pali; High Plains; Evergreen; Nightjar; Sun Gazers (58.07)
Jeremy Rose (ts, bcl); Nick Garbett (t); Noel Mason (b); Alex Masso (d); Chris Abrahams (p, kyb). Camperdown, Australia, November 2021.
Earshift Music EAR069
