ANIMATION — Agemo (review)

Album · 2011 · Jazz Related Electronica/Hip-Hop

3.5/5 · 2012-02-07
js

“Agemo” is a re-mix of Animation’s previously released “Asiento” album. “Asiento” was a bold experiment in which saxophonist Bob Belden led an all-star cast in a live recreation of the classic “Bitches Brew” album, but with the intention of adding drumnbass and Weather Report influences. The combination of Miles’ open-ended jams with drumnbass flavored rhythms plus a Weather Report interactive ensemble mentality was successful and fortunately made for some great material to re-mix with. The idea of a “Weather Report approach” could have gone many different ways, but Belden and his crew wisely chose Weather Report’s hyper-syncopated years with Alphonso Johnson, as well as WR’s earliest experimental years for their influence, and eschewed the more heavy-handed WR of later years. Likewise, the drumnbass rhythms supplied by drummer Guy Licata fit the original Brew bass lines like a glove and nothing sounds forced or contrived. Interestingly enough, the combination of Matt Garrison’s Alphonso influenced bass playing with the Miles style jam sessions often recalls similarly styled bassist Marcus Miller’s work with Miles in the early 80s. Also, the way the Brew tunes are strung together in a live concert also recalls Miles’ classic Fillmore concerts and albums.

The “Asiento” album certainly supplied some great material to work with, so how do the re-mixes on “Agemo” sound? Disc one is basically the entire concert in full, but given a very spatial headphone mix called 3D60. Although I usually listen to speakers, I gave this mix a test ride with a set of headphones and the spatial movement of the sound is very nice. Still wanting to hear the effects on a set of speakers, I also played this CD on an old quad system set on simulated quad sound and the simulation seemed to pick up a lot of the spatial movement. Disc two of “Agemo” takes the six original tracks on “Asiento” and assigns each track to a different DJ or producer for re-mixing in various dub, trip-hop and drumnbass styles. These re-mixes are mostly pleasant, but most don’t really bring anything new to the table. The one exception is Bill Laswell’s drumnbass re-mix of “Pharaoh’s Dance” which finds the perfect beat to drive the original snaky bass line.

Disc one of “Agemo” is excellent modern fusion with lots of wide open improvised instrumental sections that hold up very well to repeat listening. Each replay reveals new surprises and details previously missed. Disc two re-mixes that material into some nice club friendly beats, but with not as much adventure as disc one.

more than 2 years ago
Permalink
Report #237217

Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer

Please login to post a shout

darkprinceofjazz wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I thought this music was very good, the spirit of Bitches Brew is not lost, but is not parody either, I look forward to more of this from Bob Belden, the remixes are pretty good too, it will blow your car speakers out if not careful, Now as far as this special headphone mix version, I didn't really get much out of it, I Don't have vintage quad equipment, but I did notice more space on the Pro logic settings, without headphones, comparing it to the Asiento. I did like the remixes a little more than you I think, but overall, I think 4 stars is appropriate.