Michael Fischer / Marcos Baggiani: bAgg*fisH

The duo bAgg*fisH—Austrian saxophonist and violinist Michael Fischer, and Amsterdam-based Argentinian drummer Marcos Baggiani began working together in 2003. The two were determined to redefine the sonic options of such a duo, blurring the conventional distinctions between muscular free jazz, post-rock, psychedelic dramas and noisy outbursts. The duo's music is wrapped in an experimental, risk-taking envelope, mischievous, driving rhythms, and poetic resonance.

Both Fischer and Baggiani are experienced improvisers—Fischer conducts the Vienna Improvisers Orchestra and Baggiani recorded with saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and is a member of the cross-genres quartet The Ambush Party. The album was recorded in 2010 and is divided into three chapters—a duo of feedback saxophone and drums (that was released as a free download album in 2012 by Audition Records), a duo of violin and small instruments, and a duo of tenor sax and drums.

The sound spectrum of the feedback sax covers almost anything between spacey analog synth to a distorted electric guitar. It is unstable, surprising, and rejecting any attempt to contain it in any linear rhythmic framework. Yet Baggiani succeeds to submit these five urgent, psychedelic sonic trips into frenetic shifting pulses.

The following five duets with Fischer on the violin, and Baggiani features a different side of this duo—exploring new sounds, subtle dynamics, and timbres. The interplay is reserved and gentle, patiently shaping an exotic sound universe and distinct atmosphere.

The last four duets of tenor sax and drums are rooted in the fiery free jazz legacy, from both sides of the Atlantic. Spiritual, inventive, and flowing with nervous energy but not anchored in the blues. Fischer has a charismatic commanding tone on the sax and the driving, poly- rhythmic pulse of Baggiani keeps pushing him to the edge.

There is no doubt that bAgg*fisH created their own, highly idiosyncratic sound universe. One that is playful, uncompromising, and guarantees to keeps the listeners ears wide open.