Evija Vēbere, Ivars Arutjunjans - Anomālija (Self Release)

It's not often that Latvian jazz (not jazz) hits the TSMM radar, but I'm here for it now, and this collaborative LP masterminded by Evija Vēbere and Ivars Arutjunjans, with a host of fellow Latvian sonic voyagers on board for the ride is a trip and a half.

Vēbere is a versatile and experimental vocalist and producer with more machines than Microsoft, perhaps better known for her avant-pop exploits that push boundaries and ruffle easy listening feathers. Arutjunjans is a relatively young, but already celebrated drummer also from Latvia but now based in Berlin and this LP, recorded over several days of improvisation with saxophonist Kārlis Auziņš, pianist Toms Mikāls, guitarist Matīss Čudars and rapper E.V and lyrical assistance by poet Marija Luīze, was then taken to the studio for distillation and the result is a potent brew of past, present but mostly far out future improvisation.

Buckle up and expect the unexpected. Arutjunans is the first to make his mark with some heavy, live beat science laying down some full force, LA style low end beats with Vēbere's electronics, apart from a rare frenetic intervention just along for the ride. She takes the reins in the second track though as she sings about who knows what in a soothing slice of lightly experimental ambient pop. Things soon get hectic though, as jazz metal drums do battle with (saxophone playing) man and machine, a fine contest where there are no losers, just winners.

And so we proceed with passages of sci-fi ambient drift, interstellar jazz dance with attitude, visions of hip hop's future 50 years from now, spiritual free jazz and experimental juke that even the Chicago crew haven't imagined yet. You get the picture this is a free spirited nu-jazz manifesto with imagination and attitude in equal measures.

Forget that muppet Musk and Space-X, get with the Latvian space jazz program.

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Playlist Companion

Find these Latvian trippers in good company over at the Slow Jazz Playlist.