Back in the ’80’s I loved Carla Bley and her music. It was always a very original take on modern jazz, laden with humour and wonderfully quirky tangents that could easily fry your brain with repeated listenings. One of my favourites was Musique Mecanique II (At Midnight). I fell back into that rabbit hole this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed finding this neglected tune and many others like The Reactionary Tango which I haven’t heard in a very long time.
Do yourself a favour and have a listen - and just when you’re about to give up on it - keep listening - because it just weirder and more funny.
And the layers of meaning within the repeated phrases begin to lend a solemnity that catches us by surprize. Delicious stuff.
Cheers.
