Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Lauren Kinsella & Alex Huber: All This Talk About
Lauren Kinsella & Alex Huber: All This Talk About
ByThree of the seven tracks are variations on "The Thought-Fox," by English poet Ted Hughes. The first minute of "Thought- Fox" has a jittery, nervy quality, with Kinsella drawing out the words and then compressing them in accelerated, ecstatic rushes over Huber's restless percussive rattling. A slightly eerie, sustained wash of cymbal signals new a direction, and Kinsella's captivating voice takes wing as the fox of the lyrics first emerges. The London-based singer breathes an effortless gospel-blues, and the seamless return to the free-form shrieks and the sharp intakes of breath that shape the words is every bit as impacting as the sudden interjection of lyricism was before.
Broadly following the same lines, "Thought-Fox 2" and "Thought-Fox 3" are gentler, less strident interpretations of Hughes' poem, with Huber's brushes acting as a balm on the former, and Kinsella's clear articulation balancing between song and spoken word. The vocal contours on "Thought-Fox 2," however, dissolve into a free-form improvisation of fractured rhythms, ululations, sharply undulating tones and child-like voicing. The first half of "Thought-Fox 3" is more sung than spoken, yet still has the feel of in-the-moment experimentation. The second halfinitiated by Huber's more urgent brushesswings between duo dialogue and Kinsella solo.
A more defined narrative flow characterizes "Except in My Dreams," a lyrically arresting examination of failed love. Kinsella's drawn out syllables contrast with Huber's bouncing rhythms, which are colored by brief pressed rolls and constantly varying cymbal dynamics. Huber's minimalist melodica gently infuses a blue tone in the quietly absorbing "They Don't Mind." Here, Kinsella's somewhat abstract lyrics and spontaneous melodic flow are like "found thoughts" instantly transcribed into sound, perhaps mirroring most closely the creative process behind her inspiration, Hughes' "The Thought-Fox."
Kinsella's use of a loop station adds vocal layers to the title track and "Throwing Back," where Huber's cymbal cries like electric feedback. Both are minimalist vignettes, with Kinsella riffing on "found sounds." Huber's melodica reappears fleetingly on the former track, with his firecracker percussion patterns once again providing impetusand striking contrastto Kinsella's natural, breathing-rhythm articulations.
It's impossible to remain indifferent to Kinsella and Huber's bold musical dialogue. A leap of faith may be required for the less curious, but for those who seek innovation and courage in music making, the rewards are there in abundance.
Track Listing
Thought-Fox; Except in My Dreams; Thought-Fox 2; They Don’t Mind; Throwing Back; Thought-Fox 3; All This Talk About.
Personnel
Lauren Kinsella: vocals, loop station (5, 7); Alex Huber: drums, percussion, melodica (4, 7).
Album information
Title: All This Talk About | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: WER WideEarRecords
< Previous
The Island
Next >
A Thousand Summers