John Surman and Jack DeJohnette - Invisible Nature - Live in Tampere and Berlin

Saxophonist and clarinet player, John Surman, has for many years, been using electronic synthesisers activated by a wind controller which means he can create synthesised noises by blowing.

When I first heard Surman I was captivated by this innovative technology which allowed him to enhance the whole texture of sounds available to him.

However, a good 10 years later I find this particular recording to be far too similar to all his other recordings.

He is an exponent of freely improvised music and this becomes increasingly tedious with each track, particularly as his range and ideas are limited.

The only variation throughout this CD is his occasional change of instrument from baritone to soprano saxophone or bass clarinet, but still the sequences of notes he uses are repetitive and unimaginative.

Drummer, Jack DeJohnette, provides a measured and sensitive backdrop to many of the tracks, one of which he actually composed, in the loosest sense of the word.

Pre-arranged

Song for World Forgiveness has a pre-arranged harmonic structure, so it tells us on the sparce sleeve notes, and the percussion weaves and bobs sensitively throughout.

His use of the electronic drum synthesiser to create a similar effect to hand drums was interestingly used on the second track entitled Rising Tide, but my greatest question is why not use actual hand drums?

Both musicians seem to be craving more sounds than they can create themselves. There are plenty of other musicians out there desperate for work . . .

Unfortunately, I cannot understand why musicians think that other people want to listen to 75 minutes of personal rambling which rarely breaks out of an ethereal smog. And believe me, I have tried.

I have come to the conclusion that it is a case of the Emperor's New Clothes.

ECM 1796