Believe - Nature's God LP

There’s perhaps a tendency to see the term “Free Jazz” and think of a cacophony; pushing the body to the extreme to elicit a blaring skronk or an across the kit performance or a hammering keys or a bass run. Hell, even the alternate names for the subgenre—Energy and Fire Music—carry with them connotations of exertion.

Where Sydney’s free jazz quartet Believe’s debut LP certainly fit into this mould their followup drawn from these same sessions, Nature’s God, is something of a companion piece. Calling this a “quiet free jazz” record might feel oxymoronic to some (or perhaps it would be seen as “new music” or “free improv” to others, which are great on their own terms but could be seem a bit serious and daunting), but there’s reward and fun to the slow burn and space on this record!

Opening with a subdued interplay between Manojlovic’s piano, Thomas’ bowed bass, and some percussive elements from Pike, the side builds before being joined by elongated sax drones from Farrar. Side 2 begins with a moment of collectively following a melodic line, but in a wonky, cubist manner, spilling into more frenetic Farrar sax lead, rounded out by a percussive passage and then petering out into an airy closing. Yet there’s no explosive moment, no cheesy quiet-loud-quiet dynamic structure, but detail and nuance brought out via restraint.

Can’t get enough! –Mitch