My first reaction was how this could be possible. A trio being a quartet, and I wanted to check, but of course that's not possible while driving. But there is no mistake: this is "
A Desert on Fire, A Forest", a composition that was already on albums by other Küchen initiatives: on Tresspass Trio's own "
Human Encore" from 2013, on "
Injuries" by Angles 9 (2014), and on Küchen's recent solo album "
Utopia" (2022). There is no doubt about it. This must be Susana Santos Silva, the way she bends notes, the embouchure, the sudden flights of sound. No matter, the music is great. Stop thinking, watch the road, listen to the music. The first track glides into "
The Spirit of Pitesti", from the same-titled album (2017), a dark and slow-moving piece that gives all four musicians, but especially the dual horn front, the chance to demonstrate their skills at deeply moving and expressive solos.
"A Different Koko", is a different kind of composition: uptempo, faster, nervous, powered by the rhythm section. It is more angular, unpredictable, raw, violent even, and less infectious than Küchen's more sweeping theme-driven pieces. It already featured on "Human Encore" (2013) and "Bruder Beda" (2012). It gives especially Strid and Santos Silva a great opportunity to shine. An infectious theme leads the intro to the next piece: "Sounds & Ruins", also from The Spirit of Pitesti (2017), a moving slow composition full of counterpoint by the trumpet to Küchen's deep baritone, resulting in a sad communal wailing, that evolves into more violent outbursts near the end.
The album ends with "In Tears", also from The Spirit of Pitesti, introduced by Zanussi's rock solid bass, and the gentle sound of Küchen's sax.
The quartet performed this live concert at the Blow Out Festival in Oslo, Norway, in 2018. Even if there is no real new material on the album, the performance is absolutely excellent, and especially the flawless and seamless interaction between Küchen and Santos Silva. It makes the music so much richer and deeper.
We're a little bit over an half hour later. Still a long road ahead of me. Let's listen to this music again, and possibly again after that, and then maybe ...
Listen and download from Bandcamp.