The Remote Viewers

Coming up with yet another novel configuration, the UK-based Remote Viewers band has created one of its most imposing recent albums. Arrayed to interpret five composition by leader/tenor saxophonist David Petts, long-time associate soprano saxophonist Adrian Northover and more recent member bassist John Edwards are joined by Steve Beresford, who puts away his usual keyboards to contribute textures from objects and toys.

With a history than encompasses working with everyone from David Toop and John Butcher to pop groups, Beresford is along to provide  the equivalent of  percussion interludes and timbral amplification and disruption. With Edwards’ affiliated string smacks and occasional thickened arco rubs or below-the-bridge string rasps for contrast, horizontal evolution is cemented. Meanwhile in counterpoint lock step the note-bending tones of mid-range tenor saxophone flutters and higher-pitched soprano saxophone trill tighten or comment upon the themes. Most commonly Beresford scratching, ratcheting or pin wheel lacerations are layered on top of the others’ expositions.

There are tracks like “Winter Library 7” where Beresford’s projection of air -tube honks, scratches and chirps add dissonance to the developing broken chord exposition that segues into a pseudo walking Blues via thick string pumps and throating reed breaths. However the best demonstration of using sound interjections to lighten linearity without shattering it is the extended “Winter Library 5”. Raw object scouring and windy shakes plus bright reed breaths begin to splinter the measured melody along with Edwards’ string pops until a concentrated secondary line propelled by paired mid-range tenor saxophone slurs and high-pitched soprano sax fills return continuous straight-ahead movement.

The Remote Viewers promise two more volumes of these chill book collection compositions with additional participants during the next few months. If Vol. 1 is any indication the sounds and performances should be just as cool.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Winter Library 1 2. Winter Library 14 3. Winter Library 5 4. Winter Library 7 5. Winter Library 20

Personnel: Adrian Northover (soprano saxophone); David Petts (tenor saxophone); John Edwards (bass) and Steve Beresford (objects and toys)