A great mix of shadow and noise from
Tim Berne's
Snakeoil group – one of the best projects he's created in recent years, and a group who really set a new sort of fire to
Berne's imagination! There's a wonderful blend of texture, tension, and individual expression going on here – modes that are initially familiar to an ECM setting, but which often break free with the sort of energy that
Tim brought to his music years back – especially when his alto sax takes off in some searing solo moments. The group features Matt Mitchell on some especially great piano – very spaced, but very powerful – plus Oscar Noriega on clarinet and bass clarinet, and Ches Smith on drums, vibes, and percussion. Titles include "Static", "Psalm", "OC/
DC", "Socket", "Cornered Duck", and "Son Of Not So Sure".