Hunt, Randy / Allen, Josh / Orr, Timothy – “Drudgery” – [Edgetone Records]

Forceful fire music, forged in the East Bay, dating back to connections
via dias de el Diablo! Sax attacker Josh Allen always floats my boat,
and then thoroughly ignites it. Smoke on the water indeed, floating
lyrical, but engulfed in a fury that cannot be stopped. But he’s aided
and abetted by solid forces, check out the weight dropped by Randy Hunt’s
bass on “Broken” and the rapid rivalry on percussion by Tim Orr on that
same track. This CD is evidently the filtered version of 160 minutes
of free pyrotechniques. Yow. Even the more slender, slinky attempt on
“Sliver” with sustained bass bows and cymbal rings, has Allen pedaling
power to the nth degree on circular spirals. Breathe for him. “Prism”
is another track that tries to hover, and not incinerate. Orr’s rattling
chains, and Hunt’s bass moans, but Allen soars past the sores for some
torching, but the piece does find some peace at about 5 minutes in.
Is track 8 the “hit?” “Monotony” finds the catchiest version of cats and
mouse playing, Allen keeping his runs quick and tight with Orr whacking a
mole for a beat. Keepers of the flame!

-Thurston Hunger