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Machine Mass Sextet: Intrusion

Machine Mass Sextet started as the core duo of Michel Delville (guitar, Roland GR09) and Tony Bianco (drums). Since forming in 2011 the band has released four albums, including their latest titled Intrusion on Off Records, under the umbrella of MoonJune Records. Joining the duo for this release are Antoine Guenet (piano), Laurent Blondiau (trumpet), Manuel Hermia (saxophones) and Damien Campion (upright bass).

The band play a style of eclectic jazz with elements of fusion , very creative in their approach to eclectic and non-traditional sounds. The disc begins with John Coltrane’s “Africa”, where intricate drum patterns and wild freeform flowing saxophone and trumpet burst with creativity. It’s almost eleven minutes of mind-bending solos and abstract sounds. On the title track the bass and drums begin soft as a feather letting the piano and trumpet weave some interesting melodies as the song runs its fourteen-minute course. Probably the coolest song to my ears is the psychedelic jazz of “ED” featuring acerbic guitar lines all the way through. It’s a blistering listen and features the Sextet’s wide range of sounds. The disc ends with the Zawinul penned “In a Silent Way”, another choice cut.

For those gravitating to the more eclectic and freeform side of jazz and jazz fusion, Intrusion should fit that bill rather nicely.

Track Listing:
1. Africa (Coltrane) (10:48)
2. Intrusion (Guenet) (14:17)
3. This Is (Machine Mass) (2:19)
4. Not Another Loud Song (Delville) (9:01)
5. Intro (Campion) (2:12)
6. The Roll (Delville) (9:02)
7. ED (Delville) (6:16)
8. In a Silent Way (Zawinul) (11:14)

Added: September 11th 2021
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band on Facebook
Hits: 1085
Language: english

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Machine Mass Sextet: Intrusion
Posted by Eric Porter, SoT Staff Writer on 2021-09-11 21:16:20
My Score:

When a band bookends it’s album with Coltrane and Zawinul covers, you expect to be in for a treat. Intrusion is a mix of various jazz styles, but one thing remains the same throughout, the bands energy. Drummer Tony Bianco shows to be very adept as he maneuvers through the disc. My favorite track “ED” features some blazing guitar work, while Bianco is really driving the band with fast paced solid drumming. During other songs such as “This Is”, the entire band seems to be improving, and Bianco joins the party with a more loose style. The track is a short 2 minutes and change, and at times sounds like a band warming up getting ready to hit the stage. Manuel Hermia on Sax and Laurent Blondiau on trumpet are often the featured instruments, carrying the motifs, playing in unison one minute, and off to the stratosphere the next. Hermia can often be heard screeching (I meant that in a good way) as he seems to get lost (also in a good way) in the music, not knowing what is coming next. Even when the band seems to veer off the rails, they somehow find their way back to the main riff to bring the song full circle.

There is a lot to like here, the band displays great command of dynamics, allowing plenty of space, and each instrument seems to find a place in each song to showcase their wonderful playing.



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