Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

John Zorn - The Dreamers [Tzadik - 2008]

The Dreamers finds Zorn in much more populist, approachable and playful mood than much of his recent work, with this possible been the most charming, tuneful and un- motiveless album of his career- it’s just about making entertaining, melodic and beautiful composed and played music.

Where his other album forays into more popular and approachable musically fields such as Taboo and Exile and The Gift have had either more fiery and avant tracks too, or had underling motives and commentary on the blandness of society. The Dreamers seems to focus purely on shaping, moulding and making dramatic, soothing and almost always tuneful tracks. On board we have long term Zorn players such as; Joey Baron on Drums, Marc Ribot on Guitars, Jamie Saft on Keyboards, Trevor Dunn on Bass. Along with Zorn’s sax playing on one track and Cyro Baptista on Percussion and Kenny Wollesen on Vibes.

The musical output  here is an easy and never too jarring mix of exotica, surf rock, harmonic rock, jazz, funk, blues and cinematic moments. It feels often like a more open, varied and relaxed extension of the material on The Gift, but with a greater dominance of Marc Ribot's passionate and emotional electric guitar playing and soloing.One track in particular Mystic Circles sounding very much like a supped up, layered up and more percussive version of Samarkan from The Gift, but I guess we can allow him one clear nod back to The Gift as the rest of the material here is original and fresh

The packaging as often the way with Tzadik and Zorn releasers is worth a mention, It's a card gatefold cover with kids bedroom like wall paper covered with cartoon animal pictures, with a set of stickers of a few of the characters inside along with inlay notes on tracing paper like stock similar to what was used on the Naked City Box set book. A real pleasure of an album, played with great flare and passion- lets hope like The Gift Zorn decides to do some live shows with this material.

Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5

Roger Batty
Latest Reviews

John Zorn - The Dreamers
The Dreamers finds Zorn in much more populist, approachable and playful mood than much of his recent work, with this possible been the most charming, tu...
190324   Pierre Jodlowski - Séries fo...
180324   José María Sánchez-Verdú - K...
180324   Celer - Cursory Asperses
180324   Burial Ground/ Nights of Terr...
150324   Uncodified - Erased People
150324   The Residents - Secret Show (...
130324   Dagr - Dagr (ltd-theatrical/ ...
130324   Ignaz Schick & Oliver Steidle...
120324   Math - Utterblight
120324   OdNu + Ümlaut - Abandoned Spaces
Latest Articles

Sutcliffe No More - Normal Everyd...
Sutcliffe No More are a British two-piece bringing together Kevin Tomkins & Paul Taylor. Formed in 2021, it’s the spin-off project/ next sonic step...
290224   Sutcliffe No More - Normal Ev...
100124   Occlusion - The Operation Is...
181223   Best Of 2023 - Music, Sound &...
051223   Powerhouse Films - Of Magic, ...
181023   IO - Of Sound, Of Art, Of Exp...
210923   Lucky Cerruti - Of Not so Fri...
290823   The Residents - The Trouble W...
110723   Yotzeret Sheydim Interview - ...
250523   TenHornedBeast - Into The Dee...
050523   Bill Morroni - The Trials & ...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2023. Twenty two years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom