Colin Stetson seems to be a musician in his who rights.
Helping out bands like Arcade Fire and Bell Orchestre.
Having seen live for the first time in 2009 when opening up for Bell Orchestre.
I am still in awe with his performance and playing that gigantic bass Saxophone.
There will be some people who may not understand his kind of music.
So I am going to listen his New History Warfare Vol. 1 & 2 at the same time.
Don’t forget that Colin will be in Ottawa on April 22, 2011 at Zaphod Beeblebrox.
New History Warfare Volume. 1 which came out in 2008.
It has more of that avant-garde experimental free jazz sound to it.
Shows off his talent big time when playing the saxophone solo.
Some tracks range from 1 minute and some range to 8-11 minutes.
If you are into this kind of music and don’t mind how crazy this album is then you should get it.
Best tracks on Vol 1.
- And It Fought to Escape
- Time Is Advancing With Fitful Irregularity
- As a Bird or Branch
- Nobu Take
- Tiger Tiger Crane
- Letter to HST
- Our Heartbreak Perfect
I’d give Vol.1 a 8/10.
Now three years later, Colin releases the follow which is Vol 2 of New History Warfare with the theme of Judges.
This time the album is on Constellation Records.
Listening to the album is far more daring than the last album.
This time he got alot of layering of the sounds.
Also there are some tracks like “A Dream of Water” which features vocals from performance artist Laurie Anderson and “Lord I Just Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes” which features Shara Worden from My Brightest Diamond.
Vol.2 seems to be his most boldest work at the moment.
Best tracks on Vol 2.
- Judges
- The Stars in His Head (Dark Lights Remix)
- From No Part of Me Could I Summon a Voice
- A Dream Of Water
- Home
- Lord I Just Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes
- Clothed in the Skin of the Dead
- Red Horse (Judges ll)
- The Righteous Wrath of an Honorable Man
- Fear of the Unknown and the Blazing Sun
- In Love and in Justice
COLIN STETSON – Judges (preview) by Constellation Records
I’d give Vol.2 a 9/10.
Overall listening to both albums, it is like an explosion on the ears and minds when he infuses his Saxophone.
I know his music may not be up to people’s standard of Jazz music.
