UK’s MUSIQUE MACHINE just reviewed our 2023 release of HUNT AT THE BROOK’s double disc. This double album unites DANIEL THOMPSON, TOM JACKSON and BENEDICT TAYLOR again but also expand to a quartet with flutist NEIL METCALFE. This release is available through our bandcamp store. Thanks to Musique Machine for the publication.

“Here’s a two-CD set bringing together two different improv sets, and as it appears on Belgian-based New Wave Of Jazz, it sits at the more abstract, shifting, at points fairly visceral side of the improv genre. Both sets here were recorded at Stamford Brook in London in April and May of 2019- not sure if this is a small venue or studio, as doing an internet search didn’t seem to bring up much aside from the Tube station. Both sets were also recorded by one Dave Hunt- so hench the release’s Hunt At Brook title. So, the first set/ disc is from April and features the three-piece of Tom Jackson – clarinet, Benedict Taylor – viola, and Daniel Thompson – acoustic guitar- who offer up six tracks. We go from “Second Improvisation” which is the second longest track here at just over fourteen and a half minutes. It opens with a blend of dark plucked/ angular guitar that is edged by sourly simmering string tone & descending horn sustain. We then move from a blend of more rapid and playful clarinet, dating guitar stutt, and seared viola sipes. Onto counterbalances of sawing ’n’ baying sting work, which are shifted by exuberate horn playing. “Fourth Improvisation” slides in at the eight-and-a-half minute mark- opening with a very manic blend of darting horn piping, stop-start guitar pluck ‘n’ scrub, and searing ‘n’ swooping viola. Around the mid-way point, things become less demented/ more spaced with shifting horn wavers, and smaller compressed scrubs ‘n’ shifting neck fiddles- though things start to get manic again fairly soon.
The second set/ disc is from May- featuring Tom Jackson – clarinet, Neil Metcalfe – flute, Benedict Taylor – viola, and Daniel Thompson- acoustic guitar. We open with the nearing sixteen & half minutes of “First Improvisation” which moves between a mixture of warbling horn haziness and malevolent pick ‘n’ pluck. And higher pitch horn fleeting’s meet vigorous string saw ‘n’ grate. “Third Improvisation” slides in just over the eleven-and-a-half minute mark- moving drifting horn bay & darting pick. Onto more flighty blend horn flight ‘n’ warble, meets manic saw & scrab. Through sour whistling & forlorn twang. The disc is finished off by “Fourth Improvisation” which is just over the four-minute mark- this is a decidedly swift & urgent blend of manic warble, fitful pluck, and jarring saw. Both discs here are rewarding- with a nice amount of shift & dart about the improvising. Though I’d say the second disc stood out most to me with its even balance of string and wind instrumentation, as I found the general pull/ shift of these tracks slightly more engaging.” Musique Machine – UK