The Call - Vinyle 180Gr

Description

Taking their name and sonic inspiration from the unique call of the bellbird, whose cry is among the most powerful and distinctive in the animal kingdom, Bellbird explores themes of interconnectedness between musicians, musical genres, and the natural world. The Montreal quartet, composed of Claire Devlin (tenor saxophone), Allison Burik (alto saxophone, bass clarinet), Eli Davidovici (bass), and Mili Hong (drums), began playing together during improvised park jam sessions during the pandemic, inspired by the jazz and free improvisation scene that had developed around Café Résonance. But it was after an invitation to play at the Ottawa Jazz Festival in 2021 that the collective truly took shape under the name Bellbird. The quartet pushes the boundaries of their acclaimed 2023 self-produced debut album, Root in Tandem, by engaging in a deeply collaborative songwriting process. After sharing songwriting duties, the eight tracks on The Call were born from improvisation workshops and musical games, drawing inspiration from poems and conversations exchanged during out-of-town residencies. The result is a powerful and coherent work that blends their jazz instrumentation with rock, fusion, and folk influences, ranging from Mingus and Eric Dolphy to Ornette Coleman's Prime Time and indie rock. A key characteristic of their sound lies in how they subvert the usual roles of their instruments: the horns deploy rhythmic patterns and supportive textures while the acoustic bass and drums define the structure. This approach is a microcosm of the band's egalitarian ethos: they function as a true collective without sacrificing their individual voices. The production largely departs from a traditional aesthetic, with powerful drums and inventive analog treatment that accentuate the music's visceral impact. Often rich in melodies and accessible, this band also doesn't hesitate to explore rawer sounds, using multiphonics, bowed bass, and metallic textures to create a sonic palette that is as enchanting and naturalistic as it is explosive. Socially and politically engaged, the album testifies to the depth of music created not by a single leader, but by a deeply empathetic quartet, listening, reacting, and creating in unison. The album The Call translates the band's feelings regarding the climate crisis and international solidarity, notably with the flagship track "Blowing on Embers," explicitly dedicated to a free Palestine. The Call represents a decisive step forward, a unified cry from a band that has fully found its powerful collective voice.