TERRE II

I have to give Julian Julian a lot of credit for what he's created here. I reviewed his previous album which I thought was quite good but this one surpasses it on every level. Interesting that Julian has pretty much given up his sax here and focussed on the electronics, programming and percussion while bringing in people to play a variety of horns, cello, flute and more. Of course Julian is a master composer and I just love the direction he is going here with this project.

"Prelude" opens with bass clarinet in this solemn intro before flute and atmosphere take over. This is Classical sounding until the drums kick in. Lots of deep bass sounds here as the flute plays over top. I like it. It ends like it began. "Terre II" opens with bass clarinet but then it kicks into a full sound with drums, piano, horns and more. Such a pleasant sound. Sax before 2 minutes playing over top. Catchy stuff. Back to that original theme before 3 minutes. "Iris I" is the first of six "Iris" interludes if you will. Atmosphere and electronics in this dark piece.

"Ailleurs" starts with flute, atmosphere and intrcate sounds then the sax arrives before a minute. A melancholic piece. Percussion and some dissonance 2 1/2 minutes in. So much going on here. A bass horn before 4 minutes. I love the dissonant sax to end it. "Iris II" is eerie and haunting with so much atmosphere along with different sounds that come and go. The electronics increase late. So cool. "Iris III" opens with drones then we get some adventerous sounding sax, percussion and more. Such a great track.

"Une Attente" is the only vocal track as we get female vocal melodies only to start. Piano and percussion replace the vocals. Cello 1 1/2 minutes in. A slow moving tune but interesting. Vocal melodies are back replacing the cello. Vocals only late. "Iris IV" features some dissonant sax that will curl your hair(haha). Atmosphere provides a base for those awesome sax expressions. "Dou Dou" starts with samples then slow sax solos and deep atmosphere takes over. It picks up after 1 1/2 minutes with what sounds like vibes and percussion. That earlier soundscape joins in. Nice.

"Iris V" opens with what sounds like floating organ and more, almost spacey. Percussion and electronics 1 1/2 minutes in. Some interesting sounds here. "Non-Sens" is haunting to start that will continue for 3 minutes as different sounds come and go. Then we get a beat and rhythm as the sax plays over top. "Iris VI" sounds like vibes dripping on the soundscape. "Mr John Barry" opens with percussion and deep sounds as the organ joins in then some honking bass sax. Catchy stuff. A strummed instrument arrives after a minute replacing the sax briefly. More honking sax as another sax plays over top. That strummed instrument joins in after 3 minutes. Dissonant sax late.

A very adventerous work that really suits my tastes. A solid 4 stars.