FILE UNDER EXTREME

"File Under Extreme" is the first album released under the TAYLOR'S FREE UNIVERSE name and this project is the Avant-garde and improvizing side of Denmark's Robin Taylor, while TAYLOR'S UNIVERSE is his more melodic outlet. Just wanted to get that out of the way. I'll always think of the Progressor site when I think of Robin Taylor because it was there that I first heard of him back around 2004. Robin's bands are so highly rated there, but the reason I held back in buying any of his music was the lack of reviews from other sites to back up the praise. Well I finally took the plunge and now I wonder what took me so long. This album is a beast i'll tell you that. A six piece band here with SECRET OYSTER's Karsten Vogel on a variety of saxophones. We also get processed violin, fuzz bass, electronics, guitar, drums, percussion, tape collage and more. In Jazzweekly the writer says "Not since my first encounters with the music of PRESENT, UNIVERS ZERO and ART ZOYD have I heard such a distinctive and seamless blend of Jazz, metallic Progressive Rock, free improv, and late 20th century European Classical music".This was voted fifth best Danish jazz release in 2002 (out of 136) by the staff of the Danish magazine "Jazz Special".

"Germanism" opens with slowly played piano as relaxed sax joins in then other sounds.This is mellow and atmospheric stuff. A dark calm before 5 minutes as the violin comes in. Outbursts of drums before 6 minutes as the violin continues. "Stand Apart" is a 12 second drum piece. "Free-Bop" is free alright as the drums, sax and violin all seem to be playing different songs (haha).The violin comes to the fore at 2 1/2 minutes as the drums pound. It settles before 4 minutes and we get some angular guitar. Dissonant sax kicks in to end it. "More Germanism" has these psychedelic spoken words as the violin plays over top.The atmosphere comes in then drums around 2 1/2 minutes. A very cool sound here. Sax a minute later to end it.

"Age Concern" has a catchy rhythm with some energy as the sax starts to play over top.The rhythm stops as it turns experimental. Percussion and bass are back after 3 1/2 minutes then drums and sax a minute after that.Great sound ! "Less Is More" has this haunting intro as the violin makes spooky sounds.Very cool. Halfway through we get sax and other sounds coming and going in this dark soundscape. "Evaluation" opens in a chaotic manner. Insanity ! Violin comes to the fore after 2 minutes. Sax blasts away after 4 minutes then it gets crazy again. "Aspects Of A Myth" has a dark atmosphere with sax as the drums join in. It's intense 3 1/2 minutes in. Bass joins in and then that that tape collage. Haunting stuff especially after 6 minutes.Violin follows.

A very solid 4 stars and recommended to the adventerous music lover.

So, from his previous album which had been carefully constructed by one man we move to an album that was recorded on 28th January 2002 (although there were some subsequent overdubs) with a group. Here Robin was joined again by Karsten, and also by Pierre Tassone (violin, electronics), Johan Segerberg (double bass, electronics) and Kalle Mathiesen (drums, samples). When it states 'File Under Extreme' it really does mean that. What we have here is Present-style RIO melding and moving with free jazz ? anything goes, and it does. This isn't music that is meant to be gentle and laid back ? this is music that is defiant and full of dischord, music that is challenging ? almost daring the listener to turn it off.

But, if this style of music is what you enjoy listening to, then these guys show how it should be done. The interplay and complexity is breathtaking and the feeling very much is of a band that is really cooking. Robin is well known for the use of space and minimalist approaches, but there isn't room or time for that here as each musician is out to make a point while at the same time contributing to and not detracting from the whole. Karsten has been given full rein to go berserk and the note density he generates at times is incredible, but all of the guys here more than hold their own ? each taking turns to be the front man. This is music at the very edge, only just together, and at times is nothing short of genius.