The Crucible

John Zorn - The Crucible

The Crucible
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Music CD Cover

Artist: John Zorn
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2008-12-09
Music Label: Tzadik
Soundtracks:
  1. Almadel, for voice, alto sax, bass & drum
  2. Shapeshifting, for voice, alto sax, bass & drum
  3. Maleficia, for voice, alto sax, bass & drum
  4. 9 x 9, for voice, alto sax, guitar, bass & drum
  5. Hobgoblin, for voice, alto sax, bass & drum
  6. Incubi, for voice, alto sax, bass & drum
  7. Witchfinder, for voice, alto sax, bass & drum
  8. The Initiate, for voice, alto sax, bass & drum

Free Music Notes for The Crucible

Free Music Review: Moonchild with a melody.
Hit: 5 Stars

The latest record in the Moonchild project, "The Crucible" deviates from the previous records in the project in that, while its definitely a "loud" album, rather than being thematic-based material, there is a distinct element of melody on the record. In addition, the Moonchild trio of Mike Patton (vocals), Trevor Dunn (bass) and Joey Baron (drums) is augmented by the composer on alto sax and, on one track, guitarist Marc Ribot.

Like Moonchild though, the album consists by and large of intense, loud, rock inspired music-- Patton sings, grunts, screams and mumbles wordlessly alongside Zorn's sax, in its full up "loud music" mode (though perhaps a bit less shrill than on something like Buried Secrets/Guts of a Virgin), all over the top of the rhythm sections fierce performance-- Dunn is aggressive and assertive, filling a role somewhere in between traditional rock bass and guitar through a round, aggressive tone, and Baron is his usual monster, illustrating mastery over his instrument of a capacity not usually seen.

But there are massive differences between this and previous records by this band, and this is obvious from opener "Almadel". As opposed to a rhythmic pulse with Patton raging away on top of it, this one features a dueling improv between vocal and alto not unlike the Dave Douglas/John Zorn duels on Masada, then breaks into a Masada-like theme before expldoing into another dueling improv section. Zorn is downright inspired, railing away with energy and fire, Patton is intriguing and explosive, and the group is anchored by show-stealing performances from the rhythm section. This continues forth throughout the rest of the album, moving through different moods and sounds, from trading screaches a la "Litany II" of Six Litanies for Heliogabalus ("Shapeshifting") to a "Black Dog" (of Led Zeppelin IV (aka ZOSO))-inspired blues rock feature for Ribot (who turns in the requisite brilliant and unpredictable solo) to bop-infused breakneck electric jazz ("Hobgoblin"). Along the way, we also get lots of haunting moods ("Maleficia"), a tribal jazz/rock sax trio performance where Zorn seems to channel late period Albert Ayler over Killing Joke (his soloing brough to mind "New Generation" off Ayler's much maligned New Grass) and at least one drum performance that stopped me in my tracks (closer "Initiate").

Bottom line-- there a lot to love here. It's significantly more melodic than Moonchild, and to its benefit. The closest thing in Zorn's catalog I can equate this to is his take on the Stooges' "T.V. Eye" on Rubaiyat - Elektra's 40th Anniversary (2 Disc Set). This isn't a jump cut record a la Naked City, it's something completely different. I waffled back and forth on 4 and 5 stars, but this is a really superb album. Highly recommended.

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