SUNWATCHERS

Free jazz, psych and punk unite for a New York state of mind.

NIllegal Moves

TROuBLE iN MiND ew York-spewed jazz was once renowned for channelling the highestenergy protest in times of trouble (Bowie knew it when he recruited its youngbloods for Blackstar). Sunwatchers’ third album unleashes a set of instrumentals that rage and howl in tune with the madness currently gripping their beleaguered country. They wear their influences loudly, guitarist Jim McHugh charged with the fret-scrabbling attack of Sonny Sharrock or Bob Quine, while sax player Jeff Tobias’ billowing skronk recalls no less than Albert Ayler, jazz’s most extreme protest spirit. Both embrace the open field potential of

Everybody Play and fullbore Psychic Driving. Scorching opener New Dad Blues reinforces the link between this music and prog with its amped-up VdGG riffs, and Greeneyed Pigman (Get The Blade)

charges squalling jazz-rock with spangled organ, bassist Pete Kerlin and drummer Jason Ribira negotiating the torrential arrangements like seasoned canoists. The intensity only eases on a meditative rework of Alice coltrane’s Ptah, The El Doud into Eastern-flavoured prog and closing track Strollin’ coma Blues, acknowledgement of jazz’s debt to universal blues; timeless soundtrack to the world’s troubles.