Every time we come across material that’s fiercely experimental, braving the boundaries of what’s usually known in the music field, we rejoice. Why? Because we are so used to dealing with popular music, we often forget about the rest. Here’s the thing, popular music is relatable and all, but it’s also very average, it never surprises the listener and it relies on the same formula time and time again. As soon as you dive into unconventional material, a whole new artistic world opens up, a place where sound particles travel through the air freely, assuming newly-found shapes and dynamic intentions.
Take for instance German saxophonist and sonic wizard Joachim Zoepf. His latest album ‘Geschmacksarbeit’ is perhaps one of the most blatant examples of how artistic research can flourish into a full-fledged creative vision. In the case of Zoepf, his passion for Jazz and Improvisation took a rather sharp turn, allowing him to shy away from any conventional rule or aesthetic convention. Instead, the talented German pursues true authenticity, navigating noisy and classically ‘wrong’ saxophone playing, while using electronics to enrich the whole experience.
The results are many, and perhaps very different for every listener. For one thing, you could admire the technicality of it, wondering about what improvisation really stands for – it is, very often, improvisation within a pre-determined set of rules. Or – in a more relatable way – you could just try to absorb the sonic material, observing the uplifting and transformative power such music has on your brain. Free yourself!
Recommended! Discover ‘Geschmacksarbeit’ on Spotify and Bandcamp:
