published: 12 /
10 /
2010
Label:
Domino Records
Format: CD
Unusual, but totally enthralling jazz collaboration between former Soft Machine frontman Robert Wyatt, sxaophonist Gilad Atzmon and violinist Ros Stephen
Review
On the face of it ‘For the Ghosts Within’ is a peculiar bird. Robert Wyatt, a former member of prog rockers Soft Machine and possessor of one of the most unique and distinctive voices in popular music, has teamed up with saxophonist Gilad Atzmon and violinist Ros Stephen for an unusual collaboration. And then on top of that add in a string quartet and take on some jazz standards like Thelonius Monk’s ‘’Round Midnight’ and Duke Elington’s ‘In a Sentimental Mood’.
It might all sound all wrong on paper and any listener might be forgiven for approaching it with trepidation but once playing ‘For the Ghosts Within’ just sounds so right.
In fact very little of this album is conventional. Wyatt, initially unable to make some of the early recording dates sang some of his parts down the telephone into an answer phone which was then recorded onto CD and then that was taken into the studio so the musicians could get the feel and the tempo right.
It’s a quirky, idiosyncratic album but one with a lot of charm and charisma and along with the jazz standards there are some new compositions like ‘Lullaby for Irena’ and the title track as well as reworked version of ‘Maryan’ from Wyatt’s solo album ‘Shleep’.
The only duff note comes with ‘Where Are They Now?’ which starts off all music hall and then leaps into some rap section full of samples, blending in the original refrain. It’s rather out of place and just a bit of a mess.
But you can’t really fault the last two songs of Chic’s ‘At Last I Am Free’ and a tear-inducing take on Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a Wonderful World’. Both are utterly superb, all seductive and charming that you can’t help falling for.
‘For the Ghosts Within’ perhaps won’t make any ‘top 10’ lists of the greatest albums of the year but it’s still a wonderful little album that really deserves to get a wide and responsive audience. It’s another little gem from the great Robert Wyatt.
Track Listing:-
1
Laura
2
Lullaby For Irena
3
The Ghosts Within
4
Where Are They Now?
5
Maryan
6
Round Midnight
7
Lush Life
8
What's New?
9
In A Sentimental Mood
10
At Last I Am Free
11
What A Wonderful World
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