Valerio Cosi/Enzo Franchini - Conference of The Aquarians [Last Visible Dog - 2009]'Conference of The Aquarians' is a rewarding collection of Sax & drum/ precussion based tracks which dips down in pumping yet tight improv, smoky jazz tone, ambient tone drifts & hammering prog beats meet jazz attacks & all manner of interesting & often cinematic/ mixed genre places. The first recordings for the album took place back in July 2006 with Valerio(Alto Sax, piano, Double Bass, Sitar, synths, electronics, radio manipulations & final edit) and Enzo( drums, cymbals,vibes & general percussion) laying down the improvised base sax & drum often, then with a second recording other subtlemusically & percussive elements were added with the album shortly after been published by a relatively new Italian label in an edition of 100 copies which sold out quickly- this new version gives it new artwork & of course a larger edition. The most rewarding thing about the album as the whole is your not quite sure were it’ll drift or bob off to next- as it goes from eastern sitar droning & sax honked sonic sunsets, onto snow thick grades of electro static tone, through to slowly boiling-up 60’s rock that later floats with spaced sax honks, onto stiletto violent like percussive timings angular honked with Sax & offer double bass wonders. Or slowed discordant guitar & piano dwells that open into ‘In a Silent Way’ like ambience to jazz rock risers. A very worthwhile collaboration between this pair, which nicely moves through all manner of dramatic & sometimes edgy yet mostly approachable & often quite melodic improv. Roger Batty
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