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Blink

Blink

Loop Records Loop 1004

Blink are a trio comprised of saxophonist/clarinettist Robin Fincker, pianist Alcyona Mick and drummer Paul Clarvis, and they operate in an increasingly well-populated musical area: semi-free jazz. In their own words, they allow 'the music to unfold of its own accord. Many of the written forms and melodies are followed or preceded by completely free exploration of harmony and texture.'

Of course, this is nothing new (Howard Riley, to take one of the most obvious examples, has made many solo-piano recordings over the past three decades using a similar method), but what is perhaps novel is the ease and unself-consciousness with which bands such as Outhouse (also involving Fincker), Fraud, Tom Arthurs's various projects etc. incorporate what used to be a somewhat rigid stance (caricatured as 'free improvisation is the purest and most authentic style of jazz; everything else is pop-jazz') into their approach.

On this, Blink's debut, eponymous album, six of the ten pieces are sparked by memorably, even haunting melodic hooks or lines from Mick, three from Fincker and a single Harrison Birtwistle composition, but the meat of the music lies in the trio's subtle interplay, their spontaneous selections of texture and timbre, their ability to think on their feet, 'direction where the tyres press', in Thom Gunn's evocative phrase.

Fincker has a particularly suitable range of tones for such a purpose: foggy, even bleary, plaintive and robust by turns, he blends skilfully with Mick's thoughtful runs and repeated motifs, the whole simultaneously driven and embellished by Clarvis's assertive drumming. Carefully considered, even brooding music, it richly rewards repeated exposure.