Hugo Carvalhais: Ascetica

Venerable Portuguese bassist Hugo Carvalhais' "Ascetica" is a mesmerizing journey into the depths of progressive jazz, offering a soundscape which is vast and immersive, crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Carvalhais and his ensemble, create a polygonal musical environment through a blend of electronic manipulations, ambient soundscapes, springy synth riffs, and forceful sax soloing, often raising the temperature and broadening the scope. With blossoming jazz improvisations amid pulsating rock motifs, they occasionally generate fluctuating time signatures and slippery phrasings.

The album's strength lies in its ability to juxtapose moments of tranquility with bursts of sonic intensity and impacting storylines. Tracks such as "Organum" showcase Carvalhais' knack for layering sounds with calming horns, contrasted by Gabriel Pinto's gentle comping during a dreamscape brimming with airy and melodic discourses, elevated by the frontline's dynamic soloing.

Carvalhais' bass work is both an anchor and an exploratory force throughout the album. His compositions often evolve organically, allowing each instrument, whether the ethereal synths or the delicate movements that weave into a cohesive narrative. They close it out with temperance on "Mysteria," featuring a fragile duo setting with the bassist and pianist.

According to the press material Ascetica equates to "strangeness and mystery" and is not just an auditory experience; it is an emotional journey which transports listeners into enigmatic vistas. It is a testament to Carvalhais' ability to blend genres seamlessly, creating a tapestry which is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.