Szun Waves - New Hymn to Freedom

  by Keith How

published: 25 / 9 / 2018

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Review

The minimal and abstract cover that houses 'New Hymn To Freedom' is fitting for the six tracks of live improvisations laid down on the disc. Szun Waves consists of Luke Abbott, Jack Wyllie and Laurence Pike, who are all experienced in the field of fusion and improvisation, and on this second album recorded with no edits and overdubs they offer a superb set of tunes. The present jazz scene in London is currently pushing back musical boundaries in all kinds of directions (check out Jazz Refreshed) and out on the fringes of this scene Szun Waves are cleverly expanding their own territory. These six offerings are the equivalent of completely new landscapes. From the almost psychedelic opener 'Constellation' which flies into outer space with Wyllie’s saxophone spiralling cosmic runs with a real intensity, to 'Fall into Water', a simply beautiful ambient meditation that gently carries you away, this is a fine body of work. Drummer Laurence Pike drives 'High Szun' in a frenzied work out that at times brings to mind moments from Alice Coltrane’s 'Astral Meditations'. Szun Waves are a trio of names that not many of us are familiar with. Luke Abbott’s reputation for creating electronic music is growing. Wyllie, of course, will be a name known to followers of the excellent Portico Quartet. Pike is known for his work with jazz experimenters Triosk. The empathy between the three is obvious to hear, no more so on the title track, '“New Hymn to Freedom'. A pastoral opening, almost Gabarek like in its beauty, builds into a slow-burning groove led by Pike’s insistent Morse code drumming. Wyllie and Abbott duel ferociously, sax and synths intertwining and weaving never out of control, seemingly sending a message spiralling into the universe before a fade out leaves you slightly stunned. 'New Hymn to FREedom' is a fine example of new music, immersive, melodic and satisfying.

Track Listing:-

1 Constellation
2 Fall Into Water
3 High Szun
4 Temple
5 Moon Runes
6 New Hymn To Freedom

Band Links:-

https://en-gb.facebook.com/szunwaves/
https://www.szunwaves.com/
https://twitter.com/SzunWaves

Label Links:-

http://www.theleaflabel.com/en/index.p
https://www.facebook.com/theleaflabel
https://twitter.com/theleaflabel
https://www.youtube.com/user/theleafla
https://plus.google.com/10909849748304