MESMER
by Philip Clemo
REVIEWS
[A] set of dynamic musical textures… the cumulative effect of Clemo’s carefully constructed snippets and wraiths is both hypnotic and pleasantly otherworldly.
Mike Hobart, The Financial Times, UK
[A] unique brand of ambient chamber music in a set that stealthily and ever so subtly unfolds its mysteries
Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise
A stellar ensemble of musicians
Max Rienhardt, Late Junction, BBC Radio 3
Beautiful compositions and a lovely feel of dynamics
Mike Chadwick, The Cutting Edge, Jazz FM
[Clemo] approaches music in a very different way. There is room to move around in within this music… it invites the listener to approach it rather than rushing out to meet him or her. It is an absorbing and increasingly intriguing away-day from all that stuff with a regular beat and swing and guys playing modes on saxophones and pianists finding new ways to crunch blues chords. Do give it a go.
Peter Bacon, Jazz Breakfast
An exceptional improvisation around Jazz, classical and electronica… beautiful and challenging and truly leaves the listener on the end of the seat listening out for the merest detail and nuance to fully understand the music… the album title is well chosen as it really does create a sense of excluding external influence and mesmerising the listener. All of the musicians here have been taken out of the norm and used that unfamiliarity to create a piece that rewards repetition. 9/10
Andy Snipper, Musicosis
As a musical experiment it is extremely interesting, and from a listener’s viewpoint it is certainly mesmeric.
Paul Riley, Shout4Music
SLEEVE NOTES
Philip Clemo voice, acoustic and electric guitars, piano (track 13), location recordings Kevin Pollard piano (tracks 1-12) Byron Wallen trumpet, flugelhorn Sarah Homer clarinet, bass clarinet, xaphoon Oren Marshall tuba B J Cole pedal steel guitar Paul Tingen acoustic and electric guitars, location recording (after track 4) Thomas Bloch glass harmonica, ondes martenot, cristal baschet Emily Burridge cello David Fitzgerald cello John Edwards double bass Simon Edwards electric bass, marimbula, sentir, guitarron, garrahand pots, bass harmonica, bass ukulele Martin Ditcham drums and percussion Martin France additional cymbals (track 2) Tim Wheater gongs (track 7)
All tracks composed by Philip Clemo except 1, 2, 3, 8 and 12 composed by Philip Clemo and Kevin Pollard.
Mixed by Philip Clemo, with Phill Brown. Produced by Philip Clemo.
Cover image by Philip Clemo Ⓟ and © 2012 All Colours Arts
