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Product Description
Review
There's little doubting Neil Cowley's credentials (he performed a Shostakovich concerto at the Queen Elizabeth Hall aged just 10) but the pianist has faced some gentle criticism from the jazz world for not cutting loose from his stylish, hook-laden, groove-based awnings in recent years. But as elegant and catchy as this third album from the ex-Brand New Heavies keyboardist is, especially on the glassy, contemplative opener Monoface, it's the playfulness bursting from the piano ace's fingers that should capture the imagination here–and prove he's not scared of getting fresh.
Along with some delicious flashes of the minimalist, ambient ideas picked up while training as a classical pianist, baring themselves as silvery piano motifs on the terrific title-track, Vice Skating and glacial album closer Portal, it's Cowley's feverish flights of fancy that really stand out. Similar in style to the striking piano play that marked out the highlight of his 2006 album Displaced, the tumbling lunatic Clown Town, and those covers of Revolution No 1 and Revolution No 9 he recorded a few years ago, Cowley is channelling his improv spirit with real refinement.
When his music breaks into a massive grin, like it does on the thumping joyful rocker Gerald, with its furiously repetitive piano riff that snags the mind, and on the almost cartoonish Hug the Greyhound, which sees him hammering wild yet complex piano notes as if he's racing the lean, galloping groove to the finish line before falling over it in an exhausted heap, this is undeniably compelling stuff. And Cowley plays his improv style another way, too. On Stereoface, his light, percussive melodies and gently freeform ideas dot the soft groove-based funk patter brilliantly.
Giving his detractors ammunition, however, Cowley always returns to the middle ground, even mid-improv, and all too often he turns to the sort of safety-first sound that he should've been free of the day he quit offering his services as a session musician. With bassist Richard Sadler and drummer Evan Jenkins along for the ride and as reliable as ever, the latter laying down fabulous, expansive percussion, there's no need at all for Cowley to deny himself more flashes of brilliance. --Chris Parkin
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CD Description
NCT’s elegant and explosive third album Radio Silence, the bands most complete statement to date, explores uncharted extremities of the acoustic piano trio. In just a few short years, and over the course of two acclaimed albums, pianist Neil Cowley and his band mates, bassist Richard Sadler and drummer Evan Jenkins, have carved out a reputation as one of Britain’s most exciting bands. Radio Silence, their Naim Jazz (via Hide Inside) debut, is their most complete and eloquent statement yet. Cowley’s music, a powerful examination of the possibilities of the acoustic piano trio draws equally on classical, trance, rock and jazz, and led Mojo to hail the bands 2008’s Loud louder Stop as a “Modern Classic”, and list it in their ’50 Best Albums’ of that year. Radio Silence is the sound of a band fully comfortable in their unique sonic skin. It is the record that Cowley has been working towards, seizing the magical empathy of a unit, who, with thousands of hours under their belt have learnt to breathe and listen as one. Described as music for the ‘heart and feet’, Radio Silence, moves effortlessly between moments of heart-stopping beauty, rip-roaring rock riffs and Chaplinesque ditties, that reminds us that for all his many influences, Cowley’s music is as quintessentially British as ‘Test Match Special’, warm beer or a bacon sarnie. Tracks: Monoface / Radio Silence / Vice Skating / A French Lesson / Gerald / Desert To Rabat / Stereoface / Hug The Greyhound / Portal / Compact Disc version has hidden track at end entitled ‘Box Lily’ One page feature in Properganda Budget for following retail opps: HMV Primary Specialist Racking Amazon Proper Special Pack (inc mailout to 5,000) FOPP Suck It And See / Word Mag Composite Ad (£150) REVIEWS Broadsheets: The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, The Financial Times Listings: Metro, Evening Standard, Time Out Rock: Mojo, Uncut, Word, RC, Q , hi fi News, Clash etc Specialist Jazzwise, Jazz UK, Jazz Journal, Shook, Drummer, Rhythm FEATURES Mojo, The Guardian, Jazzwise, Rhythm, Time Out, Metro Plus format sections. LOCAL Various features in local media Weds 5th May Leeds College of music Thurs 6th May Manchester Band on the Wall Fri 7th May Liverpool Philharmonic, Rodewald Suite Sat 8th May Southampton Turner Simms Weds 12th May Brighton The Old Market Thurs 13th May Bristol Colston Hall Sun 16th May Cambridge The Junction Mon 17th May Tues 18th May Milton Keynes The Stables Weds 19th May Newbury The Corn Exchange, Newbury Spring Festival Fri 21st May Brighton The Old market Mon 31st May London Ronnie Scotts Tues 1st June London Ronnie Scotts Thurs 3rd Norwich Norwich Arts Centre Fri 4th June Northampton Royal + Derngate Sat 5th June Birmingham CBSO Centre Long Lead Print Mojo ½ Pg (May Issue) Jazzwise ½ Pg (April Issue) Properganda ½ Pg (April/May) Broadsheet Guardian Guide 10th April Guardian F + M 16th April Social/Online Facebook (£300 budget)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Quite why no one has reviewed this incredible album yet is a mystery. A startling modern classic that defies pigeon holing, Radio Silence like all of Cowley's work is revelatory. Mischievous jazz with a wild funky beat that carves up Brubeck with Berg. Every minute is a tasty treat.
Can't be recommended enough.
Can't be recommended enough.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Whereas some jazz is of the chin stroking, measured tone variety, the other side of the coin is a joyful, toe-tapping hoot. This CD definitely belongs in the latter camp.
Cowley's piano melds seamlessly with his bass and drum cohorts to reveal a lyrical and exciting unit, well versed in each others strengths. Much of the album is sheer fun and all a treat for the ears. Try the cheeky riffage and raising tempo of `Hug The Greyhound' for example, then finish with the lyricism of the closing track Portal.
This ain't bop but it sure bops along!
Steve Grantham
Cowley's piano melds seamlessly with his bass and drum cohorts to reveal a lyrical and exciting unit, well versed in each others strengths. Much of the album is sheer fun and all a treat for the ears. Try the cheeky riffage and raising tempo of `Hug The Greyhound' for example, then finish with the lyricism of the closing track Portal.
This ain't bop but it sure bops along!
Steve Grantham
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Neil Cowley keeps improving and yet he sounds fresh and energetic. You can hear that he is enjoying his play and doing it with fun and fluency you can expect from expert... I bought it together with Aaron Parks `Invisible cinema' and definitely prefer Radio Silence ;)
If you miss Esbjorn Svensson you will find Neil a good successor ;)
If you miss Esbjorn Svensson you will find Neil a good successor ;)
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