Cosmic Jazz for the 21st Century, Impossibly Beautiful

2 Banks of 4 / Junkyard Gods (Red Egyptian Jazz / P-Vine)

The stylish "mavericks" have returned.

Four and a half years after their 2003 album "Three Street Worlds," the long-awaited new release from 2 Banks of 4 arrives as a deeply poetic soundtrack to a road movie, blending audacity with delicate beauty. In the 90s, the seminal label "Talkin' Loud" was at the forefront of the acid jazz movement. This unit, formed by Robert Gallagher, frontman for Galliano—one of the label's flagship artists—and Demus, aka Dilip Harris, producer and engineer for Young Disciples, began with their debut album "City Watching" (2000). It was a work that seemed to deliberately cast aside their previous illustrious careers, pursuing creativity with even greater challenge within the art form of jazz.

The lyrics, carried by bold direction and meticulously woven tones and rhythms, form a trinity that seeps into the listener's very being with each listen. This masterpiece earned high praise, drawing comparisons to the spiritually rich and highly creative works of 70s labels like Black Jazz Records and the spiritual jazz collections of Strata-East. Subsequently, they released the aforementioned second album, deepening their musicality. The four waltz tracks that open the album are emblematic of this, particularly their masterful, dancefloor-ready rearrangement of Carlos Garnett's 1974 classic "Banks of Nile." Many listeners rediscovered the jazz spirit of "respecting the past while moving toward the future."

Furthermore, this latest work seems to have returned to their roots, with considerable time dedicated to creating experimental sonic effects. The fusion of contemporary musical effects and vocals from the intro exemplifies this. Their unwavering commitment to music, unswayed by trends, deserves greater recognition in today's world where everything tends to flatten out. Alongside familiar irregular time signatures, and covers of Wayne Shorter's hidden gem "Go" from his 1967 Blue Note album "Schizophrenia," and the cosmic jazz guru Sun Ra, the album unfolds with one challenging, standout track after another. Simultaneously, Rob's meticulously crafted lyrics pose profound questions to our hearts. While it's not an album for casual listening—requiring a certain readiness from the listener—it overflows with a captivating allure that draws you into its unique world as you delve deeper.

In 2008, I hope to introduce even more wonderful releases than last year.

Too beautiful to be true, 21st Century Cosmic Jazz

2 Banks of 4 / Junkyard Gods (Red Egyptian Jazz / P-Vine)

The stylish "dudes" are back. Four and a half years past since their album in 2003 "Three Street Worlds" the latest of 2 Banks of 4 which we have long enough waited for, has arrived with a poetic road movie soundtrack like album that is anarchy but also filled with delicate beauty.

In the 90's band Galliano was one of the head artist of label "Talkin' Loud" and this is a unit by the front man of Galliano, Robert Gallagher and producer/engineer of Dilip Harris a.k.a. Demus. They almost looked like throwing away their golden carreer when they released their debut album "City Watching" in 2000, it was a very challenging album that had been expressed in an artform called JAZZ with creativity.This album's bold direction and detailed rhythm and melody created a trininty that the listener's body will absorb it. It was accliamed along with 70's spirutual and creative Black Jazz Records, and Strata East albums. Later when their musical creativity reached to more deeper point they released the second album. The first four tracks in this album was a waltz, especially the '74 classic by Carlos Garnett "Banks of Nile was rearranged perfectly for our dance floor. The jazz spirit to "Respect the old and head to the future" was showed here.

Now back to this latest release, it seems that they are back to the first, seems they took long time to bring out the experimental musical effects. Their serious attitude facing music without concerning the trend should be appraised more. The irregular meter as expected and Wayne Shorter's track "GO" which was included in his hidden masterpiece album"Schizophreni"(1967 Blue Note), and cover song of Sun Ra, the album contains many challenges. It's not an album that you can sit back and listen so you need to be ready to listen. But if you do it shall bring you to the peculiar world of 2 Banks of 4.

I hope to introduce more and more better releases that last year in 2008.

Artist
http://www.myspace.com/twobanksoffour

Label
Japan http://www.bls-act.co.jp/
Germany http://www.sonarkollektiv.com/

Listen
http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2663417