Exzoskeleton - Exploring Biology
(No Sides)
Chicago's no-wave death-jazz scene seems to be constantly expanding, breathing
like some hellbent organism of its own. Weasel Walter stands at the
center of the tornado, whether it's with the Flying Luttenbachers, To
Live and Shave in LA 2, or his various associations with other acts
like Bobby Conn, the now-departed Lake of Dracula, or HateWave.
Exoskeleton pits Walter on saxophone and clarinet, relinquishing the
drums to the crazed, clattering Billy Sides. The quartet (with alto
sax and synth) deconstruct free jazz in the usual energetic manner,
reaching it's most interesting peaks when the fierce saxes dance with
the fluttering synthesizer. The six untitled tracks rush by, even on
the 20+ minute track 5, leaving the listener in a whirlwind of skronk
and thunder.
The recording could use a little more low-end, to give
Sides' drums the impact that they are capable of. The intense synth
blasts on track 5 is clear evidence that this group is enjoying
themselves, and sometimes that's all that really matters.
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