Recorded in less than 2 days, Grosso Modo captures all of the raw energy and spontaneity of a dynamic foursome. Their 'go for broke and damn the overdubs' attitude permeates the 9 tracks on this disc. Blurring the lines between avant rock and fusion, Mr. Vervloesem and crew rip through a diatribe of musical mayhem like seasoned veterans.
Beginning with the ominous sounding explorations of "Hairdressers Go Home " ( one of many whimsically titled tracks), the disc suddenly rips with a fury of pounding drums and distorted guitar.
The tracks seem to follow a similar pattern: let's establish a line which can vaguely be called melodic before launching an improvised aural assault which will leave the musically faint of heart clutching their chests in excruciating pain. The foursome sears through tracks like a cauterizing knife leaving nothing but scar tissue in their wake. A resemblance to actual musicality is evident in most tracks, yet the crux of each number seems to be improvisation. Some begin ominously, to then explode in a cavalcade of cacophony ; while others seem to burst from the seams from the get go , to then unravel in discordant streams of dissonance. Amidst the wreckage, the listener is often left spellbound by the musical prowess being demonstrated on all instruments. High points? Too many to mention: the furious guitar probing of "Have You Seen Me ?" where it seems as if Mr. Vervloesem's sustained feedbacks are gonna rip a hole in your speakers; and the superb semi-acoustic guitar and keyboard exchanges on "Olympic Trouble" are merely a demonstration of the extremes in sound that this band can achieve. The 13:58 closer " Nobody's Listening Anyway" may be their ultimate showcase . Here all the stoppers are pulled and every dog gets his day. In true jazz style, a basic musical line is introduced then each member is given his turn to demonstrate his chops. The disc ends with the same type of disharmonic meandering that it began with.
Fans of improvised, raw progressive, which takes no prisoners and asks no quarter take note; Pierre Vervloesem's Grosso Modo serves up exactly the type of recipe your musical appetite has been hungering for. A force to be reckoned with. Highly recommended.
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