Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Kinsmen And Strangers: Faustian Pact

4

Kinsmen And Strangers: Faustian Pact

By

Sign in to view read count
Kinsmen And Strangers: Faustian Pact
We always go back to Ornette Coleman. Always. That might not be your first thought listening to Faustian Pact by Kinsmen And Strangers, but protracted contact with the trio's music summons the same tumult, or at least the same clamor felt in the early 1960s. Sure, the revolution's over, but the spirit and energy of those times is unmistakable.

For adventurous listeners, that energy never gets old.

Kinsmen And Strangers is the trio of saxophonist Jon Crompton, electric guitarist James Wengrow, and drummer Mike Alfieri. Their inaugural release bares its teeth with a vociferous thrust of aggressive music wrapped within some very taut compositions. "Turn up The Noise" spins an imaginary radio dial, shifting time signatures and moods throughout. Their kung-fu drunken master style is anything but impaired. You sense the trio is heading off the rails, but no, they've executed a perfect landing. Same for "FDJT /FDNC," which skitters under the halting pulse of Alfieri before it is twisted around (and around) Wengrow's guitar and Crompton's flash-fry saxophone. The saxophonist's sonic equivalent might be Chicago's Nick Mazzarella.

With Wengrow and Mike Alfieri creating a phantasmal background, Crompton skates dreamlike figures on "Post-Then [Now]." The piece which lasts just six minutes, could easily have been drawn-out into 30-minutes of spellbinding sound. But then there's the terrifying attack of "Eureka, God Aliens!" which is part-Godzilla and part-E.T. (Note: both movie monsters were kind to children). Such is evidenced by the almost (I said "almost") chamber-like sounds of "Wagnerisch." The composition presents itself like a soundtrack to an Alfred Hitchcock film, where the pacific sounds foreshadow a coming storm. And what a storm these children, no grandchildren, of Coleman deliver.

Track Listing

Faustian Pact; Gonzo Hero; Post-Then [Now]; Eureka, God Aliens!; Wagnerisch; Turn up Your Noise; FDJT / FDNC.

Personnel

Jon Crompton: alto saxophone; James Wengrow: guitar; Mike Alfieri: drums.

Album information

Title: Faustian Pact | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.