Short Reviews [The Wrong Object - 2019 - "Into The Herd"]

The Belgian sextet are back with their latest album, only six years after the last one, which is what happens when the musicians are also in such demand with other projects as well. It is the same line-up as ‘After The Exhibition’, so we are again treated to a twin saxophone attack from Marti Melia and Francois Lourtie, while bassist Damien Campion and drummer Laurent Delchambre attempt to keep some semblance of sanity at the back with the line-up being completed by keyboard player Antoine Guenet and guitarist Michel Delville. This latter is consistently one of the most exciting guitarists in the jazz fusion scene, and although he is credited with composing five of the nine songs on display (with three by Delchambre and one by Guenet) this always feels like a complete ensemble as opposed to being led by any particular musician. It is as if Frank Zappa and Robert Fripp have pulled together a band so they can explore not only their own musical stylings but also combine it with the Canterbury Movement and then thrown in avant garde jazz and even some RIO just for the hell of it. Musically it is layered, but there is a great deal of space between these layers so one feels as if it would be possible to work through the room and see the musical strands as a visual element and never have to touch them when moving through the songs. It is hard to imagine the band without any of those currently involved, as if instead of listening to the music as a whole and just letting it take you to a new world you instead listen to just one of the musicians, I know you will be amazed at just how much work is going on from everyone. Whether they are in the limelight or providing the perfect support, here is a band really listening to each other and bouncing ideas. After 15 years of an existence marked by extensive touring, recording and numerous collaborations with international jazz and rock luminaries (Elton Dean, Harry Beckett, Annie Whitehead, Alex Maguire, Stanley Jason Zappa, Ed Mann, Robin Verheyen), The Wrong Object continues to push boundaries and blend different musical styles in a way which is both invigorating and exciting.