People: 3xaWoman

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Mary Halvorson (g)
Kevin Shea (d)
Sam Kulik (tb, b tb)
Peter Evans (t)
Kyle Forester (b, v, g)
Dan Peck (tba)

Label:

Telegraph Harp

August/2014

Catalogue Number:

TH 005

RecordDate:

2008

It's hard to think of the last time an alumnus of Anthony Braxton released an album as satisfyingly entertaining as 3xaWoman, a set so evidently fuelled by the harvests of mirth. Of course, Halvorson has previous for this sort of thing, most notably her song-based suites with violist Jessica Pavone – though those now seem a touch slight when held up to the delights on this, People's third full-length album. Buoyed by Peter Evans' deftly deployed brass arrangements, the trio of Halvorson, Forester and Shea dismantle the spine of their beguiling melodies and lyrical harmonising upon a cartwheel of pitch bends and ramshackle percussion. These are creations lurking somewhere between the ambitious quasi-pop progressions of Art Bears and the post-punk angularity of the sadly underrated, now defunct, Malignus Youth. 3xaWoman establishes a gateway for indie kids seeking an avenue into deep improvisation; its compellingly clever shifts are deliciously addictive, a rebel rousing ‘fuck yeah’ full of mischief.

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