David Torn creates three long with a core of alto saxist Tim Berne and drummer Ches Smith, bringing in the bullpen of Craig Taborn/p-ele, Mike Baggetta/g, Ryan Reffeira/g and the Scorchio String Quartet for one of the 20+ minute extravaganzas.
The band sounds like vintage Pink Floyd on “Eye Meddle,” which has hard hitting rock beats, mechanical rhythms, swirling and shrill sax screams and electric sonifications. Lots of electronic buzzing, chaotic crashing and cacophonic agonizing takes place on the piercing blowout of “Soften the Blow,” while the larger formatted “Spartan, Before It Hit” is filled with spacey noodles, thick electronic pulses, fuzzy guitar slashing, and a high pitched alto that sounds like the landing of a space ship. Visceral and cathartic, slicing like Odd Job’s flying hat.
ECM Records