Today is Jack Bruce's birthday. He is 69 years old. Also, the 11th of May was Carla Bley's 76th birthday.
They are featured artists in this album,which is by far the darkest and most unrelentingly disturbing of Michael Mantler's albums of which I am aware.
I'm not even sure why I like it, but I do-
with Carla Bley's turgid ostinati like whirlpools less and less
Jack Bruce's angry declamatory style trapped like a prisoner die screams I may die or a foetus alone with my murmur when the panting stops
or monotones of hopelessness no tinged with uncertainty yes
Cherry's agitated squalls like a man trying to shake off a swarm of hornets in the mud
The overall effect is one of existential horror.
Entirely humorless and ultimately hopeless-
I imagine that Samuel Beckett was well pleased with this setting of his words.
-DrI
Side One:
No Answer Number Six
a1-Part One (4:55)
a2-Part Two (4:50)
a3-Part Three (5:45)
a4-Part Four (2:05)
Side Two:
No Answer Number Twelve
b1-Part One (7:35)
b2-Part Two (4:05)
b3-Part Three (2:00)
b4-Part Four (2:55)
Music by Michael Mantler
Words by Samuel Beckett from "How It Is", translated from the French by the author.
Jack Bruce- Voices, Bass Guitar
Carla Bley- Piano, Clavinet, Organs
Don Cherry- Trumpet
(1) or (1)
