This is the second album I’ve reviewed by bassist Richard Ford demonstrating the various environs suitable for the bass, and it works just as well as the first. His songs range from solo to small group excursions to create a colorful tapestry of tones here.
The solos of “Martinique” and “The Stepwell” are textured and folksy and Brian Eno ambient, respectfully, while drummer Jake Reed joins in for a melodic, pretty and echoey “Rivers, Rivers”. An exotic caravan is created with Steve Nelson/sax and Juan Chaves/tp entering stage left for “Even Further Offshore” with extra strings and Kessi Blue’s dreamy voice creating a soulful “Soon”. Percussion with Nick Mancini’s vibes give a textured atmosphere for “The Tale of Two Mangos” and with Bill Barrett’s harmonica, Ford bends and creates effects on a simmering “Spongelanding” . The basics of bass.