This band, where alternative rock, jazz rock, and free jazz have ultimately met, is still a match made in heaven. James Brandon Lewis (tenor saxophone), one of the stars in the jazz firmament, serves the free jazz genre, Anthony Pirog (guitar) the jazz rock faction, and the ex-Fugazi rhythm section Joe Lally (bass) and Brendan Canty (drums) the hardcore/alternative fans. After successful tours that took the quartet across the US and Europe, they have become a real unit. Consequently, after the end of this experience, they recorded the music for their second joint album, Deface The Currency ,in just two days. The result showcases the quartet as a well-rehearsed, well-oiled machine, but this time the range of compositions is more diverse. The seven tracks on Deface The Currencyreveal a new level of harmony and naturalness, and the entire album demonstrates how much fun the band had recording it. More than on their debut album, they succeed in bringing compositional elements to the fore without neglecting improvisational aspects. “I like making beautiful, carefully crafted records”, says Brendan Canty. “But I also like to let things flow naturally in the studio. I think people can hear the difference.” Two years ago, when they set out to record their debut as a group, the way they worked looked quite different. Much of the music had already taken shape before Lewis was involved, and they spent just one day rehearsing together prior to the studio sessions. Only after completing the aforementioned tour did they fully recognize themselves as a genuine band - and they were eager to channel that new sense of unity into their work. That shift in mindset can be heard in the frequent and striking changes in dynamics throughout the record.
The band may see this as a strength, and it is also virtuosic, no question. However, especially at the beginning, the pieces are composed in a rather conventional jazz-rock style, and Pirog’s guitar style sounds a bit overly fiddly, using rather clean fretboard runs. This reminds me too much of Al DiMeola (I know this is a subjective perspective). But fortunately, the band manages to get back on track. Their eclectic approach still works best when they rock hard - that is, when Pirog lets his guitar wail and Lewis coaxes rougher, throatier tones from the tenor, which then happens in the last two tracks of the album: “Clutch,” reminiscent of “Fear Not” from 2022, and “Serpent Tongue (Slight Return)”. The latter appeared in its original version on the 2018 Messthetics debut and is jazz punk as you would dream it to be - wild, crazy, free, and sprawling. In its intensity as “Slight Return” it’s also a reference to Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”, with free jazz taking on the role of the blues in Hendrix’s version. Riding on the opening riff, the quartet then sails toward the sunset in the final section.
Even though I would say that Deface The Currency isn’t quite as impressive as the debut, the album still shows a lot of energy, enthusiasm, and tightness. Those who liked the first album will also find what they are looking for here.
You can listen to Deface the Currency on the usual streaming devices.
Watch the title track here:
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