King Tears Bat Trip
King Tears Bat Trip

THE REVIEW

At the end of the year, it's always ranking time, and while browsing various webzines, I happened to come across this title, which, more than others, managed to catch my interest, also because of the "free-jazz" label, a genre I haven't explored much (essentially Coleman, Coltrane, and some Zorn). Maybe to jazz purists, this album won't say anything new or might even sound clichéd, but as an outsider, I was quite curious about a free album that had managed to make it onto several rock-oriented charts, so I decided to give this ensemble from Seattle a chance. The group consists of seven people, including four (!) drummers, accompanied by a guitar, a tenor saxophone, and a chango (which seems to be a kind of digital synthesizer). Also, since apparently four drums weren't deemed enough to raise a ruckus, the other three members alternately engage in more generic percussion duties.

In any case, this debut consists of two long tracks, each 18 minutes long, consisting of extended jam sessions with strong tribal and percussion elements (with noise and psychedelic inserts) that create a soundscape on which the screeching saxophone, often distorted, occasionally embarks on its own gallops. The group members have apparently even coined a term to define it all, namely psych-trend/post-drum circle, which adds to the ever-growing list of invented genres, but at least manages to give a vague idea of what it sounds like.

From the description, it might sound extremely repetitive (and in some ways it is), pretentious, boring, and hard to approach, but despite everything, I have to say that from the first listen, the tracks seemed to me quite enjoyable and not excessively challenging (of course, if for you music must necessarily be melodic and fit within the framework of a song format, you will hardly appreciate it), besides being strangely hypnotic and relaxing in its tribalism and obsessiveness.

In short, if you love things like Earth, Shit and Shine, or Oneida (mentioning some kindred spirits in intent), you can safely give it a try. I wouldn't know how to venture a precise rating, but even after several listens this interesting "album" continues to keep me good company and has lost none of its primal magnetic charge.