Review: Adult Jazz - Gist Is
By Garrett Bower, Staff Writer
[Spare Thought; 2014]
Rating: 8/10
Key Tracks: “Hum,” “Spook,” “Idiot Mantra”
As music and genre break down further, creating an explosion of artists looking to push outward evermore, it can be hard to find a little piece of sonic terrain that is not yet claimed—or worse, trampled. With their debut album, Gist Is, UK-native Adult Jazz has set out to find that rare domain. In turn, the four-piece not only crafts an incredibly layered and intricate album but a very human one, using both compliment and conflict to conjure an entire spectrum of emotion.
Gist Is’ opening track, “Hum,” begins with a low, single-note drone that does well to cleanse the listener’s palette. Vocalist Harry Burgess then enters, shrilly and sweetly pleading as he asks a love not to leave. Burgess’ vocals become more abstract as the song progresses, the band playing with heavy effects and sparse sporadic instrumentation. The track avoids predictable structure, setting the tone of being adrift. When things finally begin to come together it is signaled by Burgess’ initially hesitant, “A love / A love that is awaiting,” which he grasps with greater fervor as the track builds into a beautiful fully-orchestrated culmination.
Adult Jazz performs these builds and lulls so well that the listener is sucked in, only realizing how fully engaged they are when a track allows itself to dissolute. Instrumentation varies from keyboards, brass and excellent percussion used equally as a strong timekeeper and an unpredictable part of the overall sound.
Tracks on the album range from easily digestible jaunts like the chant-centric “Springful” to the album’s pinnacle, “Spook,” a nearly-10-minute epic that builds from spacey keys and a somber voice. Burgess’ voice favors emotion and emphasis over traditional pacing. The track then engages full riffs so textured they practically drip into listeners’ ears. “Spook” exhibits massive amounts of emotional punch throughout, simultaneously keeping a smooth sheen of cool. It’s a fascinating listen, delighting in how wonderfully all of the parts fit so well together, yet never overwhelming in just how much is being experienced. Finally, the track culminates in vibratoed wails from Burgess and fast, rolling drums that end swiftly. It leaves the listener reeling, wondering how the trip could have ended so quickly.
As the second half of a sonic one-two punch almost as perfectly beautiful as Animal Collective’s back-to-back “For Reverend Green” and “Fireworks,” “Idiot Mantra” is the first to follow “Spook.” “Idiot Mantra” starts with a clipped, echoed chant and drums sounding like cooler rivals of those ending the previous track. Burgess’ vocals are high and muddled with a chilling whisper underscoring them. With the addition of the sitar, the track immediately establishes and maintains a sort of desperate intensity.
However, with those two heavyweights finished, the final two tracks fall a little flat. Like some of the other unmentioned tracks, “Be A Girl” and “Bonedigger” simply feel a bit indifferent when stacked up against these other wild rides. When Adult Jazz goes all out the music really shines, throwing the group into seldom-explored and very intriguing space. As this is the band’s first release, Gist Is does offer a great deal of promise for future ventures into parts unknown.
