Nels Cline’s new album is very relaxed, at least on the opener »The Returning AngelG. It’s as if Cline, Ingrid Laubrock (saxophone), Tom Rainey (drums) and Chris Lightcap (bass) were tuning into each other for the first time. After Nels Cline has released almost suspiciously quiet music in recent years, »Consentrik Quartet« is a return to the old spirit of adventure. As early as »The 23,« they play around a complicated beat with infectious relish, taking it apart and putting it back together again.
In addition to his day job as guitarist in the Americana band Wilco, Nels Cline has been working on an enormous stylistic spectrum since the early 1980s. These include free improvisation, intimate acoustic duets such as with his colleague Julian Lage, interpretations of jazz standards, and experimental rock music in the band of punk bassist Mike Watt. The »Consentrik Quartet« epitomizes this range over the length of a double album: the theme of “Surplus” is reminiscent of Thelonious Monk, escalating rather crashily as it progresses, only to return to the classical theme. »Satomi« is a tribute to the bassist and singer of the weird rock band Deerhoof, while »The Bag« is a free play. A wonderful adventure.
Consentrik Quartet
