The Screaming Target strays into free jazz and ambient soundtracks territory this month with local musicians Malchamech and Neil Campbell.

Two platters here which could neatly fall into the territory of musical soundtrack. Jon Savage, a well respected music critic recently wrote about his love of soundtracks as a unique musical form in itself. Secretly yielding surprising gems from what is generally considered background music. Not so, it seems, and to emphasise that, here are two examples for your listening pleasure.

Malchamech – The Imperfection of Crowds
Available now on Bandcamp

Malchamech, Phil Hargreaves, (sax/flute) Richard Harding (Chapman Stick) Richard Harrison (drums/percussion) takes its name from a seventeenth century alchemist.

Phil Hargreaves notes that similarities exist between improvisers and early alchemists. That is the practice of putting together various disparate elements, from that process creating something new.

The first track on the album, Spiral Exposition, reminds me of Michael Snow’s “Eye and Ear control”. The entire soundtrack was played by Albert Ayler’s all star free jazz quartet back in 64 and today still remains a challenging piece of music.

Snow saw Albert Ayler’s group play live and decided he wanted to work with them on a film, but after listening to a few rehearsals Snow stipulated that it should be played along the lines of pure improvisation. Ayler at this point, was moving in an extreme avant garde direction, but would still begin songs and solos, much the same way normal jazz groups would operate. So, through the intervention of Michael Snow a new jazz hybrid was invented.

The album is now regarded as a key recording in the history of Free Jazz along with the earlier album Free Jazz by Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane’s Ascension.

I think you can also add to the list another Ornette Coleman album, Chappaqua Suite, that was produced a year later in 65. Once again a soundtrack album.

After listening to the finished recording, the director of the chappaqua suite Conrad Rooks rejected the offering from Ornette on the grounds of it being too magical, and would distract from the message of the film. Interestingly though, Ornette’s soundtrack is revered today, unfortunately Chappaqua the movie in question has slipped into obscurity.

So these artists and recordings laid down the basis from what is known today as Pure Improvisation. Much of the music played on the Malchamech CD falls into this category which Phil Hargreves describes as jazz/metal. The standout tracks are Spiral Exposition, Green Vixen and The Arrival of the Jester. The Imperfection of Crowds is available now on Bandcamp for the more adventurous ones among you.

Malchamech have an album launch at Metal, Edge Hill Station on Friday 28th July at 7.30pm
Admission by donation (how much you have at the time)

Neil Campbell – Journey Into Space
Available now on Bandcamp

Another slice of music that fits neatly into soundtrack mode is the new CD from Neil Campbell, Journey Into Space. It’s a very mellow affair, there is a distinct pastoral feel to the recording sounding like it was recorded in a cottage in Wales.

The last CD I reviewed here was a collaboration between Nicola Collarbone and Neil called The Berlin Suite that had a completely different vibe, one of fast cities and movement.

This is quite the opposite. You have the gentle unfolding of notes and cascading strings reminding me of undulating hill’s or clouds slowly moving across the sky creating an almost zen-like feel to the music.

According to the notes supplied with the Bandcamp recording the music was based on the poems of Sean Street. The poetry will be added to the different tracks as a performance piece on a selected night in the next month. Personally, I see the music as poetry in itself as John Cage would say. But, that said, it will be interesting to see how the poems fit into the musical proceedings.