First up in the Seasons series are Colorlist, a crossover jazz duo from Chicago comprised of multi-instrumentalists (an oft-dreaded moniker and no mistake) Charles Rumback who mans percussion, bells and melodica, and Charles Gorkzynski on saxophone, numerous woodwind instruments, synthesizers and harmonium.
[Purchase] The Fastest Way To Become The Ocean is the first in a series of vinyl 10″ EPs to be released across 2011 on the boutique Welsh label Serein, so far responsible for only two albums since its relaunch as a physical format label in 2010: the critically acclaimed Nest album Retold and the gorgeous, gold-foil embossed sounds of Olan Mill’s Pine. Entitled Seasons 2011, the series will unsurprisingly feature four releases by different artists, one for each season.
First up in the Seasons series are Colorlist, a crossover jazz duo from Chicago comprised of multi-instrumentalists (an oft-dreaded moniker and no mistake) Charles Rumback who mans percussion, bells and melodica, and Charles Gorkzynski on saxophone, numerous woodwind instruments, synthesizers and harmonium. These many and varied instruments are often heard in unison, either layered upon one another using digital production techniques or subtly segueing into each other, evolving over extended timescales.
“Light Conditions” is structured as an introduction of sorts, a warm and tune-up leading to windswept atmospheres that are suddenly shut in as woozy pads sway under a playful and darting saxophone. It leads directly into the EP’s strongest entry, “Nine Lives,” a splendidly fresh, free-jazz trip given structure by looping flute passages, clarinet and dusty, brush percussion, featuring the guitar work of Tortoise’s Jeff Parker. The piece evolves constantly during its near ten minute run, each instrument taking centre stage almost in turn before overlapping and bowing out to the wings, until finally the fluttering, mesmerising sprite of an alto saxophone completely dominates the stage. The piece is both spellbinding and hugely evocative of the ocean settings alluded to in the title, one that begs to have been part of a full length album, especially after the carefully staged and paced “Light Conditions.”
“Coming Into Sight” adds another colour to the EP, as well as a narrative progression to the harbor-side location it visits, characterised by fresh and airy atmospheres, gently evolving over another nine and a half minutes. The salty harmonium begins in slightly sombre mood as it breathes deeply amongst quietly tumbling drums before the wind picks up and rising waves of sea-spray cymbal splashes and brushwork join the fray as two saxophones soar into the air, weaving around one another playfully like chasing insects.
But then comes the totally unexpected bathos of “What We Have Left.” What might otherwise have simply been a peppery salad of light-hearted saxophone and clattering percussion is sabotaged by a frankly very silly falsetto vocal performance by Liz Payne. She’s a quite capable vocalist so who knows what is going on with this eccentric choice of delivery, its odd inclusion feeling rather gawky and out of place, derailing the release at the last minute.
Playful, eclectic and decidedly experimental, Colorlist’s The Fastest Way To Become The Ocean is an interesting choice of debut for Serein’s Seasons series given the more well known artists whose entries are to follow, but is a genuinely intriguing one, managing to be both quirky, charming and quite beguiling.
The presentation of this series is, as you would expect from Serein, absolutely first rate. Each edition of five hundred is individually hand-numbered, and the heavyweight vinyl 10″ disc arrives shrink-wrapped and housed in a thick, matt-laminated outer sleeve that is also printed inside (a lovely solid deep red in this case) and die cut black inner paper sleeve. All orders also include a digital download of the tracks.
Rather confusingly, though, these releases are apparently neither tied to the season in which they are released or to a particular season, rendering the umbrella title somewhat arbitrary. Future artists in the series are Donato Wharton (City Center Offices), Nest (Deaf Center’s Otto Totland and Serien label-owner Huw Roberts), and Hauschka (130701). It’s easy to see how these artists might tie themselves to seasons: Colorlist’s is easily a springtime release, Hauschka could quite happily represent summer or autumn, Wharton’s forthcoming 10″ is decidedly autumnal and Nest would effortlessly warm or chill us during the winter. It seems like a missed opportunity to add another level to the concept of the series, but perhaps would have been too limiting a remit. In any event, Seasons definitely a home for experimental releases by a variety of artists, and will hopefully garner enough of a following to warrant more Seasons series for years to come.
The Fastest Way To Become The Ocean is out now on Serein. [Purchase]
Colorlist / Nine Lives by Serein
