Matana Roberts

COIN COIN Chapter Four: Memphis

Jazztracks For The Blind.

Based in New York, Matana Roberts is an artist, composer, saxophonist, and sound experimenter. Her work seeks to expose, within American creative expression, the mystical roots and traditions of intuitive elevation of the mind. Performing a variety of roles - storyteller, musician, ethnographer, activist - Roberts forges a new approach to narrativity, history and political expression, all reinterpreted through improvisational structures.

Coin-Coin comes out of the ... read more

Genre: Avant-Garde Jazz

Um...this is kinda annoying. Nah scratch that, this is kinda very annoying. This album is a mix of seemingly random moments of jazz composition which SOUNDS like it could be cool,but instead comes across as awkward and irritating. Hardly melodies and more just a random collection of stings and noises. I get that it's supposed to sound uneasy and strange but it comes across more like a child playing with random instruments. Expecially "Shoes of Gold" which ... read more

Like I've said many times before, I am not a fan of jazz. I will say, though, that this is yet another unique album this year. I don't have any context from the other chapters to reflect my full feelings on this, but the results of what's on display are chaotic and clashy, beautiful and insightful.

Fav Tracks: as far as the eye can see, fit to be tied, raise yourself up, trail of the smiling sphinx, her mighty waters run, piddling, jewels of the sky: inscription, all things beautiful

Least ... read more

Before getting into this review, I'd like to clear some things up. First I'm not an abid Jazz listener, two, neither an ambient music listener. Three, this review is based on my impressions through this record so it might not be accurate at all (it isn't in fact).

UNNECESSARY LONG REVIEW ALERT:

As many of you have said, Memphis is not an easy listen, it may be way too chaotic, messy, and my favorite description so far "an ocean of chaos" since it condenses the feeling of being ... read more