Spring Heel Jack ~ The Sweetness Of The Water
Spring Heel Jack
have traced a singular odyssey over the last 15 years taking in pop production,
breakbeat science and unusual reworkings of Rodgers and Hammerstein standards.
Seen from this perspective, their sudden left turn into the occasionally blasted
lands of free improvisation makes a weird kind of sense. This is their fourth
release for New York’s Thirsty Ear and it sees Spring Heel Jack continue
to invite top rank improvisors from both sides of the Atlantic to explore
settings which the duo then edit and arrange. The Sweetness Of The Water sees
John Coxon take a more prominent role in proceedings with his musical partner
Ashley Wales continuing to make subtly essential contributions. The music
here is notably more meditative than on previous outings. Coxon and Wales’s
interventions take courage to make, but their stark, warm production reveals
the often haunting beauty of their guests’ playing to great effect.
Colin Buttimer
June 2004