kieran hebden / steve reid / mats gustafsson

Live At The South Bank

'Live At The South Bank' is the fifth and final release documenting one of the most thrilling partnerships in modern Jazz improvisation. Joined by Norwegian power-saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) and Steve Reid open an all-consuming vortex of anarchic Free Jazz, high velocity Krautrock and Electronic psychedelia over two discs, recorded in concert on 20th June 2009 in the foyer of the Queen Elizabeth Hall at London's South Bank Centre, as part of the Meltdown festival curated by Ornette Coleman. For the first 20 minutes Reid and Hebden lock into 'Morning Prayer', creating a groove so hypnotic that Gustafsson even forgot to play. But soon enough his presence is felt, descending into what sounds like the death throes of a wounded wilderbeest while the central duo power thru steamrolling climax, only to demolish it and scatter themselves into a spiralling refraction of splayed drums, atom-splitting electronics and blasted skronk. And that's just the first disc! The second opens to 'Untitled', a motorik twelve minute Krautrock push thru foggy drone and astronomic clarion calls before breaking it down to the murmuring polyphonic conversation of '25th Street' and, oh man, the elated 15 min+ piece de resistance 'The Sun Never Sets'. Sadly Steve Reid passed away since the recording, but this tempestuous performance is as memorable a farewell as anyone could hope for. Recommended.