The Intersection: Hercules And Love Affair

The Intersection: is an ongoing feature on JazzWrap that looks at artists that have blended jazz, world and electronica in new and highly creative ways.

Hercules And Love Affair (group)
DJ Kicks (!K7 Records; 2012)

Some how Andy Butler, founding member of the electronic outfit, Hercules and Love Affair, has perfectly blended disco/soul motifs from 80s and 90s house/soul into 21st Century modern dance music.

While their two studio albums have these influences as well elements that remind me of 80s outfits Quando Quango and Section 25 (and a looser extent, E.S.G.), their recent adventure into the K7 DJ Kicks series is a slightly different journey altogether.

This DJ mix collection is a wonderful and deeper look into the groups influences that helped build the modern twist that is now Hercules And Love Affair. The mix is well balanced concoction where past and present turn into the future-perfect. "Don't Keep Me Waiting" an underground classic by Mankind has a sultry Chic-like vocal and is layered with a four keyboard line that is forward-thinking for the dancefloor. Hercules And Love Affair's lone contribution to this collection, the sexy "Release Me" is filled with drums and late night vocals about letting love leave. Sweaty, sexy and romantic.

Fax Yourself's "Strut Your Techno Stuff" is a friendly reminder how playful and forceful house music can sometimes feel. Great samples, handclaps and dark basslines make this a killer piece no matter what time it is during your party. "Magojiro" by In Flagranti is weird soulful electronica with lots of subtle undertones. In the latter stages the piece warps into "A Bit Of Redemption" from Haze Factory with heavy thumping bass and psychotic synth patterns.

The DJ Kicks series is always a killer set of well chosen tunes that allow you a light insight of what artist are thinking. Hercules And Love Affair show that their DJ Kicks spans the dancefloor, the heart and the bedroom. This is a great collection and well worth checking out.

1982+BJ Cole

1982 (trio)
1982+BJ Cole (Hubro Music; 2012)
Nils Okland (violin, fiddle)
Sigbjorn Appland (harmonium)
Oyvind Skarbo (drums)
BJ Cole (pedal steel guitar)

The trio 1982 formed through various collaborations and duo sessions each of the members has previously done is now what appears to be a fully functional and consistent trio. Their style weaves between atmospheric, minimal and classical chamber trios. 1982 is all about the structure of sound, creating the image for the listener. This is enhanced by the absence of song titles.

On their newest release, they are joined by pedal guitarist, BJ Cole for the simply titled, 1982+BJ Cole. Cole's addition gives the trio a more dynamic and expansive structure. The first two pieces "9:03" and "4:22", both illustrate a new, full vision for the group. "9:03" inhabits the similar ethereal nature the group constructed over its previous two albums with shifting patterns and harmonics that are breath-taking and enchanting. "4:22" is a nice balance of experimentalism and Cole's swirling sense of lonesome guitar.

"5:21" is touching, with Okland and Skarbo standing out with excellent repetitive lines and calculated percussion. This is augmented wonderfully by Cole and Appland, creating a lovely and steadied melody. "4:00" emotes a minimalism that is reminiscent of Steve Reich. It reverberates in a humble and subtle fashion that becomes more beautiful as the piece moves forward.

Again, 1982 has put together a brilliant set of soundscapes that are magnificent to hear but also intriguing once you dig deeper into it on repeated spins. This collaboration with BJ Cole only highlights the skill of this trio once more. Another strong reason why 1982 is one of those unheard groups that needs to be heard. A real must have album. And a highly recommended one from me. And one of my albums of the year!

Platform 1: Takes Off

Platform 1 (quintet)

Takes Off (Clean Feed; 2012)

Magnus Broo (trumpet)

Ken Vandermark (sax)

Steve Swell (trombone)

Joe Williamson (bass)

Michael Vatcher (drums)

Another couple of weeks and another excellent project featuring some of the best on the Free Jazz scene. Platform 1 is an international combination that has worked together in various forms (most recently as Resonance Ensemble). But what makes Takes Off slightly different is the freedom in which the musicians create and utilize the space around them to superb effect.

"Portal #33" had shades of Vandermark's main outfit, The Vandermark 5. The sound is fast paced but with a fun well-intended groove. Williamson, Swell and Vatcher are killer. The piece swerves with more improvised lines towards latter portions before Broo and Williamson lead the quintet gently out.

This gives way to a steady, quiet and introspective "Stations," in which Broo's passages have a sweet delicate beauty to them. Williamson has a great quiet solo towards the end that is later joined by Vandermark. Really touching harmonies of dedication.

"Deep Beige/For Derek's Kids," a double melodic suite written by both Williamson and Swell, moves with dark entrancing tones through subtle notes from the horn section and some free movement by Vandermark on clarinet. This first portion lulls the listener into a quiet sense of abandon.

The mood becomes slightly more open and spacious with the second movement. Swell adds a blues-like touch that soon ventures into a very calculated abstraction and cacophony of the final album track "In Between Chairs." An excellent closing number that brings the session full circle with a boisterous bit humour but also a solid sense that Platform 1 could be one of Vandermark's more adventurous groups going forward. Solid stuff worth your listening pleasure.

Wadada Leo Smith/Louis Moholo-Moholo: Ancestors

Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet)

Louis Moholo-Moholo (drums)

Ancestors (Tum Records Oy; 2012)

A spiritual journey filled with verve and creativity. Surprisingly the first collaborative meeting between Wadada Leo Smith and Louis Moholo-Moholo. Both have worked together in various combinations but never alone - together. So this meeting and document, Ancestors, has a real sense of excitement with possibilities that are endless and intriguing.

On the opener, "Moholo-Moholo/Golden Spirit," both artists give their respective upbringing's credits. Leo Smith's southern roots provide a blues-like hue tied next to Moholo-Moholo's rich African tradition. The introspective spirit and deeply passionate tones create an ominous texture that slowly pulls you into their world. "Jackson Pollock-Action" is more a free flowing experiment between the two musicians, finding various jumping off points that create short motifs that shine with each sporadic note. 

The epic title "Ancestors" is a suite of five improvised movements. Part 2& 3 add touches of melody and groove intertwined with their improvised moments. While the closing movements (4& 5) are a more determined piece of African percussion and poetic adventure. Leo Smith's fast and steady pace in the begining is a powerful harmonic force only tempered in the final movement by Moholo-Moholo's vocal tribute to greats past and present.

In the past twelve months Wadada Leo Smith has been an inspiring form. A stellar selection of diverse releases that are all worth digging into. Ancestors is no exception. Highly Recommended.