
Twinset: Flavour Country
By Mark Laurent
Mark Ussher must have had fun designing the sleeve for this album! It presents like a 1950s soap powder ad fuelled by steroids. And Twinset obviously have a lot of fun playing together. This is the sixth album from Wellington twins (really!) Christopher (Hammond organ), and Daniel (flute, clarinet, saxes) Yeabsley, and Paul Hoskin (drums). They got turned on to Jimmy Smith and the ‘60s organ trio thing, and they do it to a tee, happy schmaltz and all. I personally would’ve left out Billy Joel’s Just The Way You Are (the only vocal track) as it comes too close to an RSA cabaret combo for safety. Actually, if you’re looking for some jazz that’ll take you places you’ve never been, this isn’t it. ‘Flavour Country’ treads well-measured beebop/boogaloo grooves absolutely faithfully - well, almost! Just when I found myself losing focus Central Plateau brought me back. A hypnotic soundscape deserving to be played loud. The following numbers revert to pleasant lounge, but then along comes Space Legion, a 16 minute jam, reminiscent of Miles Davis’ In A Silent Way. Now you’ve got my attention!
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