Joseph Shabason - Aytche

The Guardian 80

(Western Vinyl)

Based in Toronto, Joseph Shabason plays saxophone with art rockers Destroyer and provides icy synths for the R&B outfit DIANA. His solo debut, however, is densely textured ambient jazz that is wonderful to immerse yourself in for 40 minutes. Backed by watery synths, muted trumpet, EBowed guitar and recordings of birdsong, Shabason plays tenor sax through a harmonising pedal, which turns his aqueous riffs into wispy, symphonic fanfares. There are moments of virtuosity from Destroyer guitarist Nic Bragg, free jazz drummer Philippe Melanson and bassist Bram Gielen, while Shabason himself provides a spectral Albert Ayler-ish solo on Chopping Wood. However, the best moments come when Shabason allies his textural explorations to some heart-wrenching chord changes. The title track is a pulsating piece of drum-less house music, while Tite Cycle sees Shabason’s harmonised saxophone drifting weightlessly over a sensual, slow-motion R&B ballad.

Pitchfork 76

The debut album from saxophonist Joseph Shabason, best known for his work with Destroyer, shows a new side of his instrument. He uses electronics to create a kind of ambient jazz.