John Mailander’s Forecast – Let the World In
Something quite different from the standard fare that slides into contemporary music spheres with ease because it’s lubricated to play as expected. This isn’t as expected despite its beauty & righteously fresh arrangements. Some would say it’s World music, nah. Maybe it’s avant-garde jazz. Nope. Perhaps it’s ambient explorations. Again, I doubt it. There is little here that is strange. What I find in this music are well-shaped soundscapes, melodies that ride the crest of solid composition peppered by improvisation & lastly, a fascinating transformative piece of music that will make ears smile.
The instruments sound at times as if they’re conversing among themselves. It’s hard to describe because it’s something that I’m hearing as it plays. Maybe I’m the only one who hears it that way. One of the more melodic & intense numbers is the title track. Wonderfully performed. There’s surprisingly, nothing bombastic here in the manner of progressive rock music. Instead, the music in this sense, comes alive.
There are 9 pieces to focus on with Let the World In (Drops Jan 24/Independent/35:28) the 3rd in a trilogy of Forecast LPs & it’s a vision, a collage of interesting instrumentals that concludes with a cover of a Nick Drake song “Road.” It’s sung by the band’s visionary John Mailander (fiddle/keys/Wurlitzer/Magnus Chord organ/OP-1/electronics) who also produced the set at The Studio Nashville.
John doesn’t have the expressive voice of Nick Drake, but he does a credible job on the sole vocal on the LP & the way he laid out this performance is admirable. Some compositions have a madness to them in a jam style once explored by bands like Battered Ornaments, Keith Tippet’s Centipede & in part Paul Winter Consort, Liz Story, Tom Newman & yes, Carla Bley in her more musical moments.
Yet, the jam incentive adheres to melodic strains as the tunes progress & becomes quite impressive with creative percussion, warm horns & piano. It’s all easy on the ears & stimulating to the senses. Some chill-out instrumentation enters for a few bars, but it makes it all the more interesting as a showcase with well-propelled moments.
While I’m not a big fanatic of electronics in music I admit the application in these compositions is done wisely & with taste. It isn’t entirely an original approach, but Forecast takes the music places that make it sound refreshing…like a York Peppermint patty.
Highlights – “Let the World In,” “Gardener,” “Chapters,” “Heartland,” & “Road.”
Musicians – Ethan Jodziewicz (upright & Fretless electric bass), Chris Lippincott (pedal steel guitar/piano/electronics), Mark Raudabaugh (drums/percussion), Jake Stargel (acoustic guitar), David Williford (tenor sax/bass clarinet/woodwinds). Featuring The “Let the World In Sound Freedom Expressionists” – Hannah Delynn, Maya De Vitry, Gibb Droll, Ella Korth, Lindsay Lou & Royal Masat. All pieces are arranged by Forecast.
Color image of John courtesy of Jesse Faatz. CD @ https://www.johnmailander.com/
Song Premiere: John Mailander Song for John
