Instagon - Jazz for a Lesser Deamon (Thee Instagon Foundation)

The ever eclectic Instagon take a left turn at jazz, or more accurately, jazz-fusion, on this 20th anniversary release that documents recordings made throughout 2012 with a multitude of musicians.

Right away, the album title becomes clear with the opener, “Blood Slinger,” a psychedelic bit of free-form dixieland that recalls mid-60s Roswell Rudd. “In the West Field” follows with some funky, wah-laden, heady fusion, which sets the tone for the remainder of the album. Throughout the tracks, guitarists Chad E. Williams and John Keeling take turns embodying John Mclaughlin‘s signature Miles Davis-era scrawls and screeks to horns fading in and out while bassist/bandleader, Lob, and the drummer of the night remain in rhythmic lockstep. The influence of Sun Ra‘s Liquidity can be heard in “Fnord” and “Sightless Flight,” while “Thee Yod ov Deceit (In Thee Eyes ov a Woman)” somehow conjures Savage Republic.

A passage in the liner notes asserts: “These tracks are all improvisations that were generated live in thee moment, the first time these riffs were played anywhere.” It’s an impressive feat considering how perfectly concise these recordings are. That’s the magic of Instagon, though – perfection at every completely unpredictable turn. Well done!