Typically, the release show for this LP was busted. Some young pud officers falsely claimed they’d had a noise complaint and shut the thing down, shining lights deep into the ocular orifices of both Flaherty and Nace to make sure their souls were not harboring weapons of mass destruction or something. Such reaction remains sadly typical of the thought crimes perpetrated against those who would think in free-flowing curves during this new Fascist Century.
William “Bill” Nace and Paul “Pops” Flaherty are two of the finest side-sliding brain wranglers in the greater New England area. Flaherty’s saxwork has been well known for decades, and is personally responsible for hitching many young mules to the free jazz wagon train. Nace’s guitar stylings are a more recent development, but they have hewed to such an idiosyncratic path that their constantly renewing techniques feel as timeless as butter.
Not sure exactly how these guys fell into the same boat. Presumably Chris “Tigercat” Corsano was involved. He had, after all, maintained a long-running eponymous duo with Flaherty as well one called Vampire Belt with Nace. So that may have been the key. Perhaps the two’d get together to jam along with the TV set when Corsano and Bjork would appear on some late night program. Maybe that’s how it started. But whatever the case, the combination of Flaherty’s long wiggling shrieks and Nace’s amp-rasped string-explosions is a lovely totter into the abstract eye of a very hot furnace. There is tons of high-aktion skronk on this LP without any kind of apologizing about lack of formal “content” or linear “development” (both codewords for “bullshit”). This mother just GOES.
And it’s sure to appeal to anyone who also likes going. Especially if they hate fucking cops. (Note: the cover art by Rick “Fang” Myers shows two “Bobbies” being melted by UFO lasers.) Or even if they just hate Rudy Gulliani, which, presumably we all do. Imagine this as a very loud bullet slowly pushing its way through Rudy’s skull and just wallow in the pelasure of it all. Yum!
--Byron Coley
Deerfield MA 2011
credits
released January 1, 2011
Paul Flaherty--Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Voice
Bill Nace--electric guitar
Recorded At Paranoise Studio by Jim Matus
Artwork by Rick Myers
Originally released on LP in an edition of 250.
Copies 1 to 15 with an original drawing by Rick Myers
Artwork, excerpt from "Looking at the sun with a prepared lens".
Absolutely love this recording. I listen to it at work. I listen to it in the car on the way home from work. I listen to it while falling asleep. Curtis’ cello is so amazing. Just got the vinyl in the mail from Discogs the other day! Can’t wait to play on my hi-fi system! Dave Sewall
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Amazing album! Such high energy avant guard jazz. Great interplay between the musicians and Mette’s solo in the beginning of track 2 is mind blowing. So many different sounds. Really great. torzano