Rather than focusing on a lengthy, multi-part composition as on their 2012 release Age of Energy, for 2014's Locus the
Chicago Underground Duo deliver a handful of comparatively shorter recordings that are no less expansive or experimental than past efforts. Once again showcasing the talents of cornetist/multi-instrumentalist
Rob Mazurek and drummer/guitarist/percussionist
Chad Taylor, Locus is a frenetic album buzzing with creativity and avant-garde vitality. Traditionally, the duo record much of their music live and then overdub electronics and other sounds onto the tracks, tweaking them in post-production. Locus is no exception, and here we get
Taylor's live drumming set against layered electronics such as keyboards and even a Game Boy audio.
Mazurek, who began his career as one of Chicago's swinging, hard bop-blowing jazz musicians only to fall under the spell of the city's post-rock scene, finds a balance here between moments of frenzied cornet improvisation and layered electronic atmospherics. Tracks like "Boss," and "Human Economy" are nervy yet cinematic soundscapes that cross the border between avant-garde classical music, '80s synth rock and free improvisation. Elsewhere, "Borrow and Burry," with its skittering wire string sounds and ghostly flute, brings to mind the spacy '70s jazz of
Don Cherry and
Sun Ra. Ultimately, Locus is an album of quick hitters that nonetheless leaves a lasting impression. ~ Matt Collar