With a title that essentially means a “primal or foundational passion,” Basal Ardor is the work of two unjustly unheralded jazz-rock musicians who make a joyful noise together. Arriving not too longer after 2024’s nonsensically titled Aperiodic Grok, this 11-song collection of mostly jazz-leaning instrumentals showcases the breadth and dexterity of Tenk Van Dool (Temple of Switches) on guitars, bass, mandolin, keyboard and various synths and Paul Sears (The Muffins) on drums and percussion.
While Aperiodic Grok covered more ground stylistically, Basal Ardor is more streamlined in that it sticks primarily to jazz and sounds like something gone rogue from the prolific MoonJune Records label. In the duo’s own words (via its Bandcamp page), “the music ‘breathes’ and is not necessarily set to metered time. There are more spontaneous solos and improvised instrumentation. However, like Aperiodic Grok, the album is cerebral, melancholy and has a strong focus on mood and texture.”
At one extreme, there is “Land of the Free" -- the album’s longest track, at nearly eight-and-a-half-minutes -- a sprawling improvised piece with opening sound effects recorded at a California campground and featuring guest musicians Ruben Riera on woodwinds and pan flute, and Steve Mitchell on guitar and bass. Think The Doors on a productive ayahuasca trip. At the other end is a song like “Cappy’s Sledge,” with Heinrich Scheisshausputzer and Klopfen Kleinwuchsiger on harsh German vocals, who help turn this stomper into sort of a Led Zeppelin/Jethro Tull mashup. With cowbell.
As with Aperiodic Grok, Basal Ardor won’t be for everyone. But that’s not the point. This record is the sound of two musical friends (and a handful of their friends, including some well-chosen female vocalists) taking their time exploring how elements from their own musical backgrounds can morph into something wholly original. Basal ardor, indeed.
Track Listing
1. King Koln
2. Cappy’s Sledge
3. Head Scratcher
4. AM Geary Street
5. Land of the Free
6. Tandem Trike to Tiburon
7. Tribledation
8. From the Hearth
9. Fake Lawns
10. Katie and Natalie (featuring Clara Belle Hembree)
11. Souls
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