Joe Morris & Jamie Saft: Plymouth

Guitarist Joe Morris and keyboardist Jamie Saft follow-up the 2013 Rare Noise Records release Slobberpup in a similar vein by locking into another improvisational fest. Once all the audio processing equipment is ready to roll, it's time for instantaneous compositional forays, as they let the chips fall where they may. Morris' former student, guitarist and rising star Mary Halvorson, along with the prominent rhythm section of bassist Chris Lightcap and drummer Gerald Cleaver steer an asymmetrical rhythmic course. However, the smoky audio sound inadvertently or perhaps intentionally tenders a clustering effect that accentuates the holistic group aura in contrast to a more detailed presentation.

There are three lengthy tracks on the album and the final piece "Standish," projects a calm before the storm mindset, as we hear the instrumentalists slowly build up steam along with a surfeit of undertones, Morris' subversive phrasings and Halvorson's slithering single notes. The quintet elevates the pitch via upper-register interplay as Saft sprinkles the background with darting Hammond B3 organ lines atop an undulating current.

They turn up the heat amid the guitarists' use of distortion while generating a frantic gait, followed by weird effects and off- kilter noise-shaping movements, revved up by Saft's sweeping chord voicings. And they veer off into another galaxy of antagonistic deliberations towards closeout. No doubt, the artists' resourceful bag of tricks and keenly stylized improvisational tactics rule the roost on Plymouth

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