‘These Are Time For Mind And Spirit’ sees the ever-evolving Agile Experiments return with their sharpest album to date. Dave De Rose, band leader, producer, drummer and on this occasion, bassist, is joined by Jon Scott (Go Go Penguin) on drums and George Crowley (Melt Yourself Down) on saxophone and machines. Together they pursue the perfect meeting point between free improvisation, irresistible groove and enveloping sound.
‘These Are Time For Mind And Spirit’ is Agile Experiments’ 11th release in 4 years. This fertile communal project continues to proliferate without repeating itself due to its creative methodology. Agile Experiments is a method of creation rather than a band; The setting of a frame of mind that encourages the musicians to unleash their utmost creativity placing no limit on their imagination. This absolute freedom increases the will of the musicians to give their most selfless self, guiding the musical direction of the recordings collectively through original pathways that are beneficial to artist and listener alike.
In ‘These Are Times For Mind And Spirit’, George Crowley (an Agile Experiments collective veteran whose collaboration leads all the way back to their first release in 2018) plays with a combination of semi-modular synthesisers and FX in addition to his astounding Tenor Saxophone playing. His contribution adds punchy analogue synthetic drum patterns to Jon Scott’s phenomenally organic drum-buttered swing patterns, as well as dream-like peace-forecasts of floating synth textures and orchestral loops dripped in delay and melancholic bliss.
Jon Scott drives the music with his incredible artistry in percussive sound textures and groove. His strokes direct the music from the funk bounce of “Genome” to more abstract groove territories of “If You Believe” all the way to becoming a harmonic comping and lead instrument in the textural avant-garde of “One Mind-Spirit”. Agile Experiments’ facilitator Dave De Rose adds basslines that drum and hold, stick and roll, glide and turn, twist and tacet like an observative Taoist pilot of a mastless ship.
We’re excited to premiere “Exhale” from this beautiful project.
“…. to me “Exhale” is about a method for relief in our day and age. The method necessitates embracing our now and holding on faithfully in the life-trip. Life does, we can negotiate with it but we are part of a greater picture which is not fully in our control. When we exhale consciously we can try to let go while navigating, always remembering to embrace our reality within which we can only do our best. Our absolute best is all we need to do, letting go of idealist outcomes. This track for me showcases the navigation of the trip, we push on with vigor and conviction, there’s no certainty but we can confidently embrace it enjoying its beauty as it passes by…”
‘These Are Times For Mind And Spirit’ is out November 4th. Grab your copy here.