Search - Annexus Quam :: Beziehungen

NOT Kosmische musik, NOT Krautrock, but Freejazz

W. T. Hoffman | Pennsylvania, United States | 02/07/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I wish I could compair this album, with Annexus Quam's OSMOSES. Reading the review of their first LP, i find little there, that might refer to this LP. In almost every way, this LP evolved from the freejazz tradition. Nothing wrong there, but that sound was deeply explored by several American jazz masters, by this time.(1976) The overall sound, reminds me of Ornette Coleman's early experiments, but a much thinner, less viscerally connected sound. Inside the cover, the band expressed some disappointment with the studio setup, under which they had recorded the album. Apparently sound screens, and headphones were in use, and the musicians felt that this prevented them from having a free, unobstructed view of each other's faces. Therefore, they felt that their normal musical interaction, to produce "lifesituation" music, could not be properly pulled off. So the band is even making excuses for this LP. Not a good sign.



I'll attempt a direct discription of their sound on this album. First off, no drums. What you hear, are various sax lines, some bass, and occasionally guitar, depending on the song. The line up listed on the CD is odd, cos five musicians are listed. (Bass, two guitarists, someone one sax and flute, and another guy who seems to primarily produce ambience.) So, it isnt rooted by a drummer like Ornette Coleman quartet's Ed Blackwell, or Elvin Jones, who played with Coltrane with his freejazz sessions. Naturally, a good drummer can really ground sessions that embrace the unexpected, and spontaneous. A drummer might have been able to give musical signals, and hear rythymic links, and produce a lot of texture and energy. You don't have that here. Maybe the thinner sound, keeps this album from the becoming very difficult music, as say Coltrane's "OM", or "ASSENSION". But i would never compair Annexus Quam's music to Pink Floyd. Perhaps at times, on maybe one song, you start to hear the slightest hints of psychedelia. It's transcient at best. If I could compair this with any music, maybe it would be that German band LIMBUS. So much of this music just mellows out, to some squeaking sax, with another sax line, occasional guitar arpeggios, and some occasional sound effects. I don't hear heavily textured interactions, overall. You expect more sound, from 5 musicians. Yet that is not the case. One might surmise, that this was music the band hoped would just gell in the studio, and it didnt. However, don't get me wrong. I wouldn't call this a failed experiment on all levels. It certainly beats listening to "SMOOTH JAZZ". Maybe I'd only say two stars, but it's certainly original, and that counts. Unfortunately the band, or producer was too "conceptual". There's not enough psychic interplay, and energy, which is what makes the best freejazz work. Perhaps this band's first album is more successful. If so, then I would recommend that, if you want to the band at their best."