“A deeply tasteful and meditative recording, Odum seems destined to become a touchstone in improvisational music in the future and is a singular and imaginative statement from three masters in the form.” — PopMatters
PopMatters is currently streaming Odum, the four-track debut from experimental jazz trio SICK GAZELLE in its entirety.
SICK GAZELLE was formed by longtime friends and Chicago underground music regulars Eric Block (Veloce) and Bruce Lamont (Yakuza, Corrections House). Originally operating as a duo with Block on guitar and Lamont on saxophone and vocals, the pair functioned on a purely improvised basis. After one jam session, shows where booked, and the running theme was to discuss what key to play in while having dinner before the set. Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) accidentally found himself playing drums with SICK GAZELLE when he was in town laying some parts down at the infamous Semaphore Recording Studios, where Block was an engineer and manager. Over coffee one day, Shelley mentioned to Block he was finishing up early and thus had a free day. Block’s quick response, “Any interest in coming into the B room and laying down some stuff with my band.” Shelley agreed and so a couple days later, the three set up in a small room and Block threw up some mics to capture the outcome. An hour-long improv session ensued, followed by lunch and coffee, and then another hour-long session, this one with a caveat of doing something softer. The result was Odum, the band’s debut LP; four tracks of improvised, haunting, experimental jazz.
Comments PopMatters of the output, “A deeply tasteful and meditative recording, Odum seems destined to become a touchstone in improvisational music in the future and is a singular and imaginative statement from three masters in the form.”
Stream Odum, courtesy of PopMatters, at THIS LOCATION.
Odum will be released via War Crime Recordings on May 3rd on all streaming platforms and limited edition black vinyl. Preorders are available now at THIS LOCATION.
Bruce Lamont is from Chicago, Illinois and plays in Yakuza, Bloodiest, Brain Tentacles, Led Zeppelin 2, and more.
Eric Block is a guitarist, recording engineer, and coffee lover, also from Chicago. His current creative projects include Veloce and SICK GAZELLE and has made many appearances with a slew of bands on stage and in the studio.
Steve Shelley started his career in Michigan, being one of the original members of the punk band, The Crucifucks, then later went on to noise pioneers, Sonic Youth and most recently has played with Sun Kil Moon.
SICK GAZELLE:
Bruce Lamont – saxophone, vocals
Eric Block – guitars
Steve Shelley – drums, percussion
“The song falls somewhere between avant-garde jazz and Eno-esque ambience, and it’s the kind of lingering slow-burner that really creeps up on you.” – BrooklynVegan on “Atlantic”
“The results are a kind of semi-ambient psychedelic dub-jazz; Block’s guitars are fed through such heavy effects that they’re often more like synth drones. Shelley’s rhythms are tribal and endless, while Lamont’s saxophone floats through swathed in foggy reverb… this album has as much in common with Tony Conrad and Faust’s Outside The Dream Syndicate as it does with ‘jazz,’ but it rules.” –Stereogum
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