FONTANELLE

When I think of Oregon, I picture a state of endless forests that I feel is represented well by AGALLOCH, with their woodsy, folk-metal sound, and the lyrics to match. FONTANELLE who are from Portland, Oregon are a completely different cat though when it comes to the music. Formed by bassist/guitarist Rex Ritter and keyboardist Andy Brown, they released three straight albums to start the 00's(00-02) then silence for a decade before returning with this record called "Vitamin F" from 2012. And this is the last we have heard from them.

Those first three album were birthed out of the "in studio" jams they did where everything was recorded like CAN used to do, then they would pick out what they felt was the best material to go on their records. TORTOISE gets mentioned a lot in regards to those first three albums. Sort of a Post Rock/Jazz thing happening on those early recordings. The album art work for those first three albums is similar, while the art work on "Vitamin F" is completely different, suggesting a change. Oh, is there ever a change. Rex Ritter had been playing and touring with his other band SUNN 0))) over that decade, and he returned here with a new mission.

One big change is the addition of six guest horn players to their sound. There are no horns on those first three records. Then as their inspiration they have channelled that early 70's Miles Davis sound along with that Mwandishi spirit that Herbie Hancock and the boys were doing, also in the 70's. Take out that final track and this is as close to perfection as I have heard when it comes to jazz Fusion and my tastes. That closer "Reassimilated" is a six minute ballad-like piece that is different from the rest. And not a good different.

"Vitamin F" was released by Southern Lord Recordings, and I like their little blurb on this album. I should mention as well that Randall Dunn is the producer, engineer and mixer of this record. He has worked with SUNN O))), WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, BLACK MOUNTAIN and many others. Randall's mission was to go back in time to 1973 into Patrick Gleeson's Different Fur Trading Company Studio, and replicate that sound. Mission accomplished! The biggest kick I get out of this album is hearing guest trumpeter Dave Carter doing his Miles Davis impersonation. I am surprised there hasn't been more of this hero worship as it were by other trumpet players. I mean you think of Miles instantly when Carter comes in with those short bursts of trumpet runs out of the atmosphere, like on "Bitches Brew". So incredibly good.

The overall sound is dominated by that rhythm section where the drumming and bass work really are outstanding and upfront. But just as important is the keyboard work. Lots of clavinet, rhodes, wurlitzer, farfisa and synths on here. And man, those keyboards are tripped out and distorted, and with echo. This really is a dream come true in my music world. A six piece with six guests. And we have some amazing players on this all instrumental record. Seven tracks over 43 minutes, and those first six tracks are untouchable. A lot of repetitive stuff here which I like, and repeated themes and contrasts. It's hard to even pick out one of the six as a favourite, it's all so consistently good.

It's fair to say that this album might be my overall favourite from 2012, at least a top three. I first spent time with it four years ago and it has to be a top ten when it comes to my Jazz and related music. That is saying something.