Izvođač: Ulterior Lux
Izdavač: Fazzul Music
Izdanje: 1997
Ocjena: 4.2/5
Adventures je još jedan album grupe Ulterior Lux, koju vode dvojica velikih glazbenika, Markus Stauss i Jean Chaine. Ovaj put Stauss potpisuje sve kompozicije, dok je Jean Chaine, koji je nekoć bio voditelj grupe (sudeći po nazivu jednog albuma), degradiran samo na razinu aranžera i glazbenika. Dvojcu se pridružuje i Remi Strauly na bubnjevima i klavijaturama.
Glazba se ovdje ne oslanja toliko na rock kao na nekim drugim Staussovim projektima. Mogao bih čak reći da je riječ o free jazzu. Jazzovske improvizacije puno su očitije, ali su tako dobro odsvirane i inventivne da mi ne smetaju. Isto tako ima puno tipičnih Staussovih melodija koje blistaju ljubavlju prema životu i živahnošću. U njegovoj glazbi ima puno veselja, a nađe mjesta i za melankoliju i intenzitet. S njim nikad ne znaš što možeš očekivati. Naravno, čovjek ne zaboravlja ubaciti ni poneki minimalistički i avangardni trik kojim zadržava pozornost slušatelja.
Glazba je ovdje prilično jednostavna, jer u grupi ima samo troje članova (ako u postavi imaš Staussa, zapravo ti ne treba više nikog, samo bi smetali), koji sviraju bubnjeve (plus klavijature), bas i naravno saksofon (s dodacima). Sva trojica glazbenika majstori su svog zanata i svoje instrumente drže s izvanrednim znanjem i vještinom, još jednom dokazujući da u ovom trenutku najbolja glazba dolazi od “nepoznatih” grupa.
Ulterior Lux je jazzovskiji projekt od bilo koje druge Staussove “avanture”, ali to ne znači da je ovaj album išta manje avanturistički od njegovih drugih ploča. Njegove skladateljske sposobnosti očite su i ovdje. Kroz cijeli album glazbenici su izvanredni, ne samo Stauss, nego svi članovi. Znaju se potpuno prepustiti i izvesti čisti jazzovski odlijepljeni trip, a znaju se i opustiti i svirati nježnije dijelove. Još jedna ljepotica u Staussovu katalogu jazzovskih tajni, dakle. Čovjek se čini kao neiscrpan izvor iznenađenja i inspiracije.
———————————————————————————————
Adventures is another album by Ulterior Lux, headed by two great players Markus Stauss and Jean Chaine. This time round, Stauss is responsible for all the compositions, while Jean Chaine, who used to be the leader of the band (assuming from the name of one of their alums), is reduced to the role of arranger and musician. The two men are joined by Remi Strauly on drums and keyboards.
The music here doesn’t really rely on rock as much as some of Stauss’s other offerings. One could almost say that this is almost free jazz. The jazz improvisations are much more apparent, but they’re always so well played and inventive that I don’t mind. There’s also an abundance of typical Stauss melodies, which shine with their catchiness, love for life and exuberance. I find a lot of joy in his music, but he also allows room for plaintiveness and intensity. You never know what to expect! He, of course, also doesn’t forget to include some minimalistic and avant-garde tricks to maintain your attention.
This is very stripped-down music. The band namely consists of only three players (with Stauss in the band, you really don’t need any more, they’d just get in the way) on drums (plus keyboards), bass and naturally saxophones (and extras). All three musicians are masters of their craft and handle their instruments with tremendous dexterity and skill, again proving the fact that the best music nowadays comes from the “unknown” bands.
Ulterior Lux are a jazzier project than Stauss’s other “adventures”, but that doesn’t mean that this album is any less adventurous than his other records. Stauss’s skills as a composer shine through on this one yet again. The playing is tremendous throughout, not just from Stauss, but from all the guys. They know how to completely let go and do a total jazz “freak-out”, but they can also chill out with some more mellow segments. Another beauty in Stauss’s catalogue of jazz secrets. He seems to be a never-ending source of surprises and inspiration.
Postava
arkus Stauss – saksofoni i dodaci
Jean Chaine – električni bas
Rémy Sträuli – bubnjevi, klavijature
Produkcija
Markus Stauss
Popis skladbi
1. Shortstories
2. Jean’s 7 nightmares
3. In between
4. Kater Carlo
5. Deep inside
6. Again
7. Skyline
8. Twenty-six
9. A bientôt
