A Different Aspect #93

Released in February 2024, the Sandcastle Banquet EP is the latest release from Japanese trio Alter Ego, who formed in 2011 and comprises of Yoshikazu Ogata (piano), Hiroki Yasuda (bass) & Soichiro Ogawa (drums). Drawing from my non existent command of the language, Alter Ego have released five albums, along with a couple of EPs and singles. By way of introduction for both you, and myself, I’ve taken a listen to the two recent EPs and now offer a brief synopsis of both.

Initially I started with the most recent release Sandcastle Banquet, so I’ll start this review similarly. The opening tune, 心の海 (Sea of the Heart) took me a little by surprise. Why? Well looking at the Bandcamp ‘tags’ the word ‘jazz’ is singly the most prominent – so I was expecting, well… jazz, in some form or another. The melodic Sea of the Heart however is a beautiful and haunting, instrumental piano ballad. The second track, and the title tune, gives us our first glimpse of Alter Ego’s jazz leanings. Again I was taken by the sheer accessibility of Yoshikazu Ogata’s piano. Then there’s the rhythm section who are lively and dynamic – no brushes and meandering bass lines for these guys, this is off-kilter and grooving. Topping off the track is guest Yusuke Shima, who blows a mean trumpet. Closing out the EP is around us and if the track had morphed into an Elton John styled ballad, it would have been massive. Alter Ego however take us down a different route and the infectious piano is laced with classical flourishes, whilst the busy bass and drums take us elsewhere.

Mightily impressive as the Sandcastle Banquet EP is, it didn’t fully satisfy, so a quick look at the trio’s discography reveals another recent EP. Released in November 2023, permanent triangle continues Alter Ego’s distinctive brand of jazz fusion. As with the previous EP the trio continue to shine, much I suggest is down to Yoshikazu Ogata’s melodious piano, which never seems self-indulgent, and holds the listener’s attention throughout. However this is not to lessen the importance of the roles played by Hiroki Yasuda and Soichiro Ogawa, who not only hold it all in place, but are forever shifting the music from one place to another.

Once again the EP includes three relatively short tracks, each clocking in between the four to five minute mark. Opening with the up-tempo title track permanent triangle, particularly captivating here is Soichiro Ogawa’s busy, enigmatic drumming. The wistful 積木の椅子” (Stacking Chairs) takes the centre spot, with a trio version of Where will we go? closing out the EP. The track was previously released in the summer of ’23 as a single and featured trumpeter Yusuke Shima.

My journey into this trio’s music continues… currently exploring the delights of We’ll be always on your side released mid 2022, and it looks like there’s a new album scheduled for June of this year…

Collectively Alter Ego have come up with an intriguing, modern slant on the piano trio model. It may be jazz but maybe not as we know it. A great find… bloody marvellous.

Apewoman VS Turbo is an absolutely fascinating, if somewhat wacky album. Musically we are in the realms of precisely executed, intricate, math-rock guitar instrumentals, full of breakneck sweeping arpeggios and cross-rhythmic conflicts. The tracks, all seven of them, are well written, immensely catchy, but not afraid to have a bit of fun along the way. So intermingled with the wombats fiery fretboard gymnastics you’ll hear the odd curveball – loony tunes indeed.

So, what can I tell you about these exploding stellar marsupials? Well very little really other than they are a French duo and Apewoman VS Turbo is their debut album, released in March 2024. And despite my rather flippant remarks, along with their tongue in cheek name and the cartoony look of the artwork, this is an accomplished, and it has to be said, entertaining album.

A quick track check. Opener cosmic tabouleh pretty nails the wombats sound – incendiary guitar playing, catchy melodies, ever changing rhythmic directions, and of course a smattering of FUN. Following is the single bertrand, crazzzy. Later on, double cringe, is performed with country-rock swagger, and then out of nowhere there’s a rock’n’roll guitar break, segueing into a country-rock break and then a jazz solo, and all in the space of a few bars. Showing a slightly different aspect, and taking the pace down, is the delightful As Our Memories Revolved Around The Love We Lost Long Ago, They Were Standing Still In The Sunset….

The guys may not take themselves too seriously, but this does not detract from the music and their obvious skill and passion…

Malwina Zero hail from the warm and tropical climes of the Dominican Republic and thus far have released two EPs. Their latest, Caminen Bien, which translates from Spanish as ‘Walk Well’, is a joyous and uplifting affair. The five track EP clocks in at around the 22+ minute mark and features the ‘new’ extended four piece line-up. From their 2022 debut EP, Lo Que Saben, we have Kelmer Messina (guitar), Luis David “liu” Miranda (bass) and Gustavo J. Moré (drums). Broadening the guitar department on this new release we have Christian Desangles.

Quickly backtracking to their three track debut, which sees the band’s sound in an embryonic stage, rockier to these ears, but with glimpses of what is to come, especially the closing track Destello.

Moving to the new EP, what is immediately striking is, despite the oft complex nature of the tracks, Malwina Zero remain catchy and melodic. The ever shifting opener El Final is a prime example – a busy, math rock instrumental, that’s bright, breezy and tuneful. It’s a template the quartet employ to great effect across Caminen Bien.

I’ll round up this brief intro to the music of Malwina Zero and point you to the first single VGBBQ…

In late January of this year we received a ‘review request’ from Finnish quartet Oddtomatic, however a cursory glance at the email revealed Cryptic Messages was released in early 2021. Mmm, a bit of digging reveals work is under way for a new release, so this may have prompted a new push. Regardless of the delay, Oddtomatic’s Cryptic Messages turned out to be a charming, ear friendly EP and one very likely to appeal to those who enjoy the symphonic side of melodic prog.

Clocking in around the twenty six minute mark, Cryptic Messages is bookended by to very brief snippets of Morse Code (Intro and Outro). The significance of which is not apparent, however the first track proper, Ragbag, sets out the stall. With themed guitar melodies, lush keyboards and punchy bass, the track goes through numerous mood changes which harmoniously blend into each other. Similarly track three, Flyer, has a pastoral feel, the addition of airy flute completes the sound. Musically it reminded of fellow Finns, Mist Season and Paidarion, and to a lesser extent Camel and Focus.

Flute, accompanied by piano, and later a melodic bass solo are the main ingredients for the charming Interlude. This seamlessly links into Hypertramp which shows a more robust side to Oddtomatic, with growling organ, a meatier guitar sound and as the title implies there’s an odd nod to Supertramp. Zydem rounds off the EP with more melodic guitar from Pekka Ojasalo.

Oddtomatic have delivered a strong calling card, full of rich & melodic symphonic prog instrumentals. Interesting to hear how they follow this up…