Stephen McHale - Weird Glitches

While jazz-fusion peaked in popularity in the mid-1970s it still has its audience and fans of the likes of Weather Report, Return to Forever and John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra will appreciate much of what’s on offer here. An all-instrumental album, mainly featuring guitar, electric piano and saxophone with a tight rhythm section, McHale’s debut oozes musicality.
Opening track ‘Umbra’ boasts impressive dexterity on the part of all the players; ‘Lark’ features an impossibly rhythmic pattern; while ‘Ctrl, Alt, Rpt’ is more subdued and smooth, almost like a George Benson supper-club ballad. Elsewhere, ‘Parakeet’ has a strong Latin feel; the atmospheric title track highlights the saxophone, with some lovely percussion touches; and ‘Speak No Evil’, the Wayne Shorter classic from his album of the same name, boasts heavily distorted guitar. In terms of individual and ensemble performance this is seriously complex and accomplished stuff. Highly recommended.

Key Track - 'Ctrl, Alt, Rpt'