Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Franklin: Amen
Franklin: Amen
ByFranklin's bass tone is treble-heavy and therefore works as something of a hybrid between guitar and bassthe determined low frequencies working as a bass and the percussive faculties representing the guitar. The opener, "Cloud Space Earth," starts out with some tightly intertwined rhythmic accents by all involved and demonstrates a melodiousness that is neglected as quickly as it is introduced, when ambient electronic scratches and percussive cymbals take the trio down darker alleys. The finale sees the three finding their way back to harmonic unity and shines a special light on Hannaford's dry yet gripping piano runs in eights.
A monotonousness dominates the title cut, emanating from minimal drum work combined with steady and barely chordal piano playing which seems to take on the role of a metronome. The bass is the sole instrument that slowly glides through the measures and frequenciesits few notes and restrained pace creating a heavy atmosphere which is picked up by "Dark Horse" and carried through slightly dissonant improvisations to meticulously arranged and driven sections.
Each tune here shows a tendency towards disaster that is contrastingly paired with tight compositional ground work. The trio finally explodes in dissonance on "Maple and Bone" while "Moon Crab" displays their most deconstructed approach to improvisation, before "Hammer Gut" closes the album at its most swingingactual walking bass lines making a prominent appearance; the German interpretation of the title adds up to something like "super good" and might be more applicable for this musicfar from any reference to intestines.
Amen is filled with a variety of layers and sees a bassist doing things a little bit different from anyone else. Accompanied by equally curious and talented musicians, Franklin has created a very gripping record which radiates intrigue and an appetite for breaking boundaries.
Track Listing
Cloud Space Earth; Amen; Dark Horse; Maple and Bone; Moon Crab; Hammer Gut.
Personnel
Joseph Franklin
bass, electricJoseph Franklin: semi-hollow bass guitar; Marc Hannaford: piano, electronics; Satoshi Takeishi: drums, percussion
Album information
Title: Amen | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Earshift Music
Comments
About Joseph Franklin
Instrument: Bass, electric
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar ToTags
Franklin
Album Reviews
Friedrich Kunzmann
Amen
Earshift Music
Joseph Franklin
Mark Hannaford
Satoshi Takeishi