– THE CHARM OFFENSIVE –

It’s difficult to know where to focus your attention with Cykada.

The obvious choice might be drummer Tim Doyle (aka Chiminyo) who’s one of the most frantic sticksmen I’ve had the pleasure of listening to (and pain of trying to keep up with).

Or perhaps you’d prefer to divert your ears to the contributions of saxophonist James Mollison and trumpeter Axel Kaner-Lidstrom. If those reedy tones and Turkish scales sound familiar it’ll be because Mollison’s ‘day job’ is in London nu-jazz poster boys EZRA Collective.

However, for once (in jazz) I’d like to focus your efforts, if I may, on guitarist Javi Pérez, rightly described on Bandcamp as the band’s “secret weapon” and sound manipulator Tile Gilgichi-Lipere.

As well as playing keys, the latter programs, processes and modifies the sounds of the other instruments and, together with Pérez’s manic rock leanings, elevates the band’s sound waaaay above even the admittedly high standards of their UK jazz contemporaries.

With their input, Cykada become jazz’s answer to The Mars Volta with all the vitriol and unpredictability of the prog-metal band. As Mssrs Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala themselves might say; ‘Take the veil, Cerpin Taxt”.

MORE FROM THIS WEEK’S MIX

DUCKWRTH: LOVE IS LIKE A MOSHPIT
JAMILA WOODS: BASQUIAT
30/70 COLLECTIVE: NU SPRING
SERPENTWITHFEET: MESSY (ACOUSTIC)

P.S. You can find all of the tracks reviewed above in the 45 Revolutions per Minute playlist below or click to access the 45 RPM Playlist on Spotify itself.

If you like what you hear (or even if you don’t), please engage in dialogue with me @45rpm_Reviews on Twitter. And, if you’d like to receive updates weekly, please subscribe to the email list to get these recommendations sent to your inbox weekly.

– SV –