The Montreal quartet Egyptian Cotton Arkestra (ECA) has become something of a legend since their first impromptu burst in 2017. Each of his appearances is one that makes those who were there say, “I was there!” and those who missed them say, “OMG, when’s the next one?” Who knows? Because improvisation is the master of life for this unusual band, formed by a saxophone (James Goddard, who also plays the mbira, an African thumb piano), a violin (Ari Swan), a bass (Markus Lake), and drums (Lucas Huang).
Their roots lie in jazz, but especially in free improvisation, contemporary music, and French Impressionism. Long atmospheric sequences, almost ambient but more complex and harmonically driven, slowly but surely evolve towards peaks of ecstatic density, charged with unrestrained freedom. It’s the original combination of instruments, but also the sense of sound construction that distinguishes this group.
The mention “Arkestra” is not insignificant, as echoes of cosmic jazz (a reference to the Sun Ra Arkestra) are not hidden, nor are spiritual aspirations, as with Coltrane. So there’s a bit of all of that in ECA, but even more, and the two long tracks, each about 17 minutes long, on this long-awaited first album (so long-awaited that it has become a legend in itself), are a very effective testament to the product you can hear live. Witness, I say, but it’s far from reproducing the orgasmic catharsis that overwhelms the listener during a real concert by the four Montreal iconoclasts. If you enjoyed Quinton Barnes’ Black Noise album earlier this year, you’ll be happy to know they are the backing band. Not surprising. They go perfectly together.
This Time & Place by the Egyptian Cotton Arkestra is to be savoured greedily because we don’t know when (or if) there will be another one. It’s happening here and now (time and space), so don’t miss your chance.
