snobb
After three pleasant but generally toothless contemporary jazz albums e.s.t. stepped on new land on their "From The Gagarin's Point Of View" in 1999,adding some pop-rock elements to their previous "piano trio a-la Keith Jarrett" sound.This more evolution than revolution step looked like right direction and it was continued on their next album "Good Morning Susie Soho" (one of elements e.s.t. successfully borrowed from pop-rock culture is their ability to chose albums names - catchy but having no relation with musical content).
Album opens with distorted bass sounds so the listener is warned there would not be just polished melancholic piano based jazzy tunes anymore!And even "Good Morning..." is more evolutionary album good half of its compositions are of higher energy - it looks that trio just woke up from lethargic sleep of previous years.Being transitional album to their stardom nu jazz formula of early 00',this album contains traces of almost all future components of their music.Possibly most important moment is musicians are obviously grew up from their comfortable melancholic (and endless)beautifully faceless musical attic.Just listen to "The Wraith" - the composition,full of electronic effects and even groove!Even "Last Letter From Lithuania" - quite traditional for trio ballad sounds here elegant,airy and without overdose of sweet melancholy.Title song is spiced by funky electronic effects and comparing with classical trio's material sounds as real alien!"Spam Boo Limbo" sounds almost as (guitar-less)fusion song!
Returning back to land "Good Morning..." is still transitional album at the end of the day. Besides of some new style compositions it contains quite traditional for band ones. As a result after listening you'll possibly have mixed feeling - even if hidden track at the end of the album (starting at last composition's 12 minute)is full-bodied high energy fusion.To hear true e.s.t. new (or nu)sound you'll need just to play one of their new millennium albums.