CD Naim Empirical: Elements Of Truth

2011

Tom Farmer - contrabas
Nathaniel Facey - saxofon alto
Shaney Forbes - tobe
Lewis Wright - vibrafon
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George Fogel - pian

Recorded by Dave Moore at Curtis Schwartz Studio
Mixed by Ray Staff
Mastered by Ray Staff at Air Studios, London, UK

The astringent yet visceral character of Out 'n' In is maintained on Elements Of Truth. The edgy melodies and arrangements are built around Nathaniel Facey's saxophone and its oft-vocalized tone, counterpointed by Lewis Wright's vibraphone and, while the band eschews simple grooves, bassist Tom Farmer and drummer Shaney Forbes lay down solid, propulsive motor rhythms. Guest pianist George Fogel is an unobrusive but valuable presence, grounding and filling out the harmonies. Inevitably with a band featuring an alto saxophone and vibraphone frontline, there are resonances with Dolphy's landmark album Out To Lunch (Blue Note, 1964), made with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. But also to be heard are the structural innovations of pianist Vijay Iyer, the elliptical orbits of pianist Andrew Hill and the harmonic morés of 20th century composer Olivier Messiaen.

Messiaen is, in 2011, the classical composer most frequently given a nod by young British jazz musicians, for reasons which are often obscure if not inaudible. His presence can, however, readily be felt on Elements Of Truth, most clearly in the spooky "Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say." Iyer's influence is also apparent here, as it is in the uneven meter and altered harmonies of "An Ambiguous State Of Mind." Both tunes were written by Farmer, the chief composer on this disc; there are two from Facey (who split Out 'n' In down the middle with Farmer) and one from Wright.

Unlike its predecessors, Elements Of Truth was produced by the band. It is a workmanlike job, as is Dave Moore's mix, but a mis-step. Production by committee is as perilous as design by committee, and the album has a rather samey, "democratic" feel running through it. A sympathetic autocrat might have produced a more dynamic programme of tracks. That said, even on a literal and linear recording, Empirical's music makes for a cracking disc.