What I like about it: I like how even when this music is at its most scattered, there’s a melodic presence that doesn’t quit. I like how the violin fills the vacuum in its entirety, but the nuanced passages by the other quintet members opens things up even further, and gives the impression of wide open space. I like how that same nuance comes off as understated, which makes the huge melodic statements resonate that much stronger. I like how moody the album gets at times, and when the volatility spikes, it feels like a natural consequence rather than a jarring shift of atmospherics. I’m a little bit addicted to this recording, in that same way I’ve been a little bit addicted to Catfish’s Restraint for nearly four years this April. I expect Wet Electricity to linger on my playlist similarly.
Feb 25 2019
Album of the Day: Wet Electric – “Wet Electricity: Volume I”
Album: Wet Electricity: Volume 1
Label: Self-Produced
Style: Post-jazz
Favorite Track: “Heart/Mind/Body”
Music from: New York City
What I like about it: I like how even when this music is at its most scattered, there’s a melodic presence that doesn’t quit. I like how the violin fills the vacuum in its entirety, but the nuanced passages by the other quintet members opens things up even further, and gives the impression of wide open space. I like how that same nuance comes off as understated, which makes the huge melodic statements resonate that much stronger. I like how moody the album gets at times, and when the volatility spikes, it feels like a natural consequence rather than a jarring shift of atmospherics. I’m a little bit addicted to this recording, in that same way I’ve been a little bit addicted to Catfish’s Restraint for nearly four years this April. I expect Wet Electricity to linger on my playlist similarly.
Other Notes: Definitely follow the breadcrumbs to other Ethan Helm projects. It wasn’t long ago that I wrote up his 2015 release The Spoon, and I’ve been a fan of his ensemble Cowboys & Frenchmen.
Your album personnel: Ethan Helm (saxophone), Gabe Terracciano (violin), Noah Berman (guitar), Matt Honor (drums) and Jon Snell (piano).
Available at: Amazon | Bandcamp
Listen to more of the album on the artist’s Bandcamp page.
Be sure to check out the artist’s site.
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2018 • 0 • Tags: Ethan Helm, New York City, Self-Produced, Wet Electric