Troyka: Moxxy
Author: Selwyn Harris
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Kit Downes (p) |
Label: |
Edition Records |
Magazine Review Date: |
June/2012 |
Catalogue Number: |
EDN 1033 |
RecordDate: |
date not stated |
Troyka freshened up the whole notion of UK electric jazz with the very promising self-titled debut in 2009. They've gone one better here with Moxxy, their second release on Edition Records. With more emphasis on a live sound and improv, the trio bring a greater light and shade to this album, perfecting a tricky balancing act between brainy math rock and brawny jam band improv. Montague's guitar and Kit Downes' organ create inventive new sounds and textural dialogue that draws from the processes of electronics and post-rock, and moves some steps beyond the more familiar roles of the organ-guitar-drums jazz trio tradition. Montague's use of a loop station and effects pedals is always tasteful and never showy, and the improv is fiery but restrained by narrative dictates, countering the tags of “new prog” sometimes hurled at them. In a set that's spoilt for highlights, Downes' ‘Crawler’ has some great moments with his humming organ tucked in behind a fine cranked up bluesy R&B guitar solo; the lazily dreamlike Bill Frisell-influenced Montague/Blackmore ‘Rest’! ‘Oedipus’ finds the missing link between Medeski Martin & Wood and Talking Heads; the jam band slamming funk strut of ‘Zebra’ is a hip hop group sample inwaiting, and the glorious space rock ballad anthem ‘Chaplin’, a tribute to the cinematic comic genius, closes the CD – a Pink Floyd for jazz fans. Anyone who thinks jazz has become dull and outmoded needs look no further than Moxxy for an example of the exciting new breed.
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