Don’t
be put off by what has to be one of the most hideous record
covers seen in years. Spaceheads’ Low Pressure
is one of these little treasure boxes filled with goodies too
good not to share. Andy Diagram and Richard Harrison met back
in 1980 in Manchester, where they both were members of a band
called Dislocation Dance. Following the split of the band in
1986, the pair continued to collaborate on regular basis in
diverse bands. Spaceheads first took shape towards the end of
the eighties, with the duo releasing their first collection
of songs on Manchester-based baggy label Bop Cassettes. Followed
four other albums in the nineties, before integrating the roaster
of French label Bip-Hop and publishing The Time Of The Ancient
Astronaut with sound sculptor Max Eastley.
The music of Spaceheads combines the trumpet artistry of Diagram
and the drums of Harrison. Both are accomplished live musicians,
with extensive knowledge and understanding of various jazz forms.
Low Pressure reflects their non-conventional approach
by mixing traditional instrumentation with modern electronic
sounds and loops, creating unusual soundscapes and atmospheres,
ranging from smooth jazz impregnated moments to delicately crafted
ambient pieces. The languorous opening title track sets the
tone. Kicking off with treated trumpet sounds layered over a
gentle beat, the track lingers for a while in sombre territories
before Diagram eventually asserts his place by casting a fascinating
melody, in turn plaintive or soothing. On A Clear Day,
remixed by the Bleach Boys, namely Harrison and Mick Routledge,
evokes funk-ridden acid-jazz early nineties constructions, with
The Lugano Affair following on similar grounds. The
mood changes with Astro Temple. If treated sounds once
again define the atmospheric blue print of the piece, the Latin
percussions signal a more upbeat composition only tempered by
a breezy dub backing track.
With darker, more intimate moments scattered later on, revealing
the vast scope of the two musicians, Low Pressure is
a captivating exercise in style and genre cohesion, mixing the
duo’s jazz influences with post rock and contemporary
dance culture to create a truly brilliant modern soundtrack.
4.5/5 |
