Posted on: February 5, 2010 Posted by: anfnewsacct Comments: 0

This album is not for the faint of heart, as the average track here breaks the six-minute mark. Ghorar Deem Express plays a brand of free jazz that has much more in common with jam-bands than with the (more-often) classically trained brand of jazz players. The infusion of rap-like flows during tracks like “Mucoid Plaque” really changes the context of the music, especially when one considers that Nader’s vocals are more in the vein of instrumentation than truly being vocal. This quality even becomes more exaggerated during the follow-up track “Trampass”, which has Nader go into grounds previously only dominated by Michael Winslow.

While there are only tracks on this disc that have vocals as a purely ancillary instrument, this is perhaps the most radio-friendly that Ghorar Deem Express gets. The album is intended to be experienced, not just incidentally listened to, and the amount one needs to invest into making this an enjoyable time will turn many a possible fan away. While songs like “The Vachists” move through a number of distinct rhythms and influences, there are some sections that are more impressive than others. One need only hear that 1920s-Paris type section randomly inserted into the track to reazlie that there are flashes of genius that float through the aether of the band. Something like “Hey William Tell” shakes the foundations that Ghorar Deem Express had created up to the track. Mixing the very different genres of reggae and Irish-sing-along, what results is a shambling Frankenstein’s monster that is surprisingly impressive in all its welts. Interestingly enough, the “William Tell” is the title’s track is the “William Tell Overture” and Ghorar Deem Express allows the listeners to be drug along their re-interpretation for a number of minutes before springing that surprise on them.

The disc ends quickly for the experimental fare that it is. The one complaint that could be levied against Ghorar Deem Express has to be the lack of connection between the tracks; while the structure is largely the same, each track is episodic (starting over when the track starts). What follows, of course is 9 different tracks that, while exciting, seem to let down the listener in terms of continuity. For anyone into free jazz, experimental music, or classical-styled music, Ghorar Deem Express are the band that one should pick up. For individuals inculcated into the more poppy side of things, this album may be a little too off-the-hook for easy perusal.

Top Tracks: Ghorar Deem Theme, Mucoid Plaque

Rating: 5.8/10

Ghorar Deem Express – S/T / 2005 Floating Opera / 9 Tracks / http://www.ghorardeemexpress.com / http://www.floatingoperarecords.com / Reviewed 10 July 2005

Leave a Comment