Our Point of Departure, HIM's fourth full-length release, takes a departure from their previous effort, Sworn Eyes. Here, leader Doug Scharin (drums, mixing) is surrounded by Carlo Cennamo (sax), Fred Erskine (bass, trumpet), Sean Meadows (guitar), and Jon Theodore (percussion). Exit the loops and the hip-hop grooves: The music on Our Point of Departure sounds almost completely non-manipulated (except for "Persistent Life"). Tracks are a lot shorter, the longest being under eight minutes (on Sworn Eyes, two cuts were 15 minutes long), but they segue into each other, forming a suite that could be perceived as one continuous 38-minute piece, a feeling enhanced by the fact that all pieces keep the same tempo. Jazz licks abound, thanks to Cennamo's hot sax lines, and Latin rhythms flourish under the hands of Theodore, while Scharin, Erskine, and Meadows drive a funky groove and synthesizers bring in a light electronic flavor. The resulting blend is somewhere between Santana, dub, Bitches Brew-era Miles Davis, and Remain in Light-era Talking Heads (remember "The Great Curve"?). The whole thing is highly danceable and thoroughly enjoyable as an attentive listen. An LP version of this CD was released on Slowdime.
© François Couture /TiVo