Album Information:
His third outing with The Hungry Ants, Myrmidons
demonstrates Fairhurst’s development as both composer and pianist. Those key
Hungry Ants traits are still present – electronic landscapes, funky rhythms, an
unabashed uniqueness etc – yet on this recording the individual musicians are
given more space to shine, to show-off their own soloing chops.
An example of this musical freedom is Underworld, a
Fairhurst and Tim Giles duo. Giles revels in throwing rhythmic snapshots in
Fairhurst’s direction, whilst the pianist blocks such attacks with sheets of
Scriabinesque harmonics. It’s a discreet yet solid statement.
Uplift, the opening number, also has Fairhurst on acoustic
piano. It opens with a luscious, swirling melody, played in unison with Rob
Townsend on soprano sax and eventually intertwined with the pitch-bending
effects of Tim Harries. This is a rock-fusion foot-tapper, and Fairhurst’s solo
towards the end is a particular highlight, creating a piano trio vibe
reminiscent of a young Herbie Hancock.
The Chairman Forms A Quartet, the 5th track on
the album, fuses the use of electronic and acoustic instrumentation to great
effect. The angular horn melody, played in polyphony with Fairhurst’s
synthesiser, has echoes of Weather Report, specifically the Mr. Gone album –
and when Giles’ drums fade-in one realises Pinocchio must be a favourite track
of Fairhurst’s!
Myrmidons has a distinctive, punchy feel, as though
Fairhurst and his Hungry Ants cohorts are trying to fight their way out of the
jazz pigeonhole. Their main weapon is the use of rock, a plan utilised
countless times since Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. What Fairhurst offers
differently is a British eccentricity, a UK quirkiness akin to Django Bates and
Iain Ballamy – an early Fairhurst champion. This album is an essential buy for
anyone interested in the individual path Fairhurst, and thus British jazz, has
taken.
Click here to send this album as a gift
|
