Through out, Apfelbaum plays virtuosic abstract lines. “Chasing Chaos” is a remarkable piece of writing it starts as an ambient wash and surprisingly explodes into jazz-funk moments. “Strange Weather” is a more up tempo dub piece with 21st century synth sounds and always interesting parts by Haas. “Smoke and Glass” is a trip-hop flavored piece that could have been recorded in the 90’s, the golden age of that genre. Saxophonist Peter Apfelbaum, who worked for many years with Don Cherry, brings a jazz element by playing one of the two remarkable solos of the album. On the following piece, “Hard to believe”, Laswell plays two bass parts at once that inter-lock perfectly to create a sub bass bed on which the rest of the track can exist. The piece culminates in a musical stand still that I will let you experience for yourself. The first piece, “Truth be Told”, with its Middle Eastern influences, starts with a simple drum beat and evolves into an opus of massive live drums, accompanied by the Middle Eastern Ensemble Anonima*. At high levels your neighbors are sure to come knocking. Real sub-bass is a pleasure to hear at a time of tiny sounding everything. A constant on this new release are the extraordinary parts and sounds Bill Laswell and Haas have concocted. This is the type of album to discover over many listenings. As complex as some of the parts and musicianship may be, the pieces are as melodically memorable as on the previous effort. Haas’s writing has evolved as the arrangements and instrumentations are more intricate.

This album is more complex and fuller than “Nowstalgia” and the chemistry has solidified. The album, consisting of 8 pieces, continues in the vein of last years “Nowstalgia” with elements of dub, ambient, jazz, electronica, world and trip-hop. “Smoke and Glass” is the follow up to “Nowstalgia” (sonicontinuum - 2018) and the second collaboration as a duo between musician/artist Alex Haas and bassist/producer Bill Laswell who have worked together in various capacities over 30 years.

Bill laswell discography torrent