By Charlie Watkins
Solo recordings are always a risk. There is nobody to hide behind, leaving
the musician completely exposed, and the freedom can sometimes lead to
over-indulgence. But at the same time, they give a valuable insight into the
creative process and could be considered one of the ‘purest’ statements of a
musical identity. This is certainly true of John Butcher’s latest solo
recording, Away, I Was, out now on Relative Pitch.
Butcher is of course a mainstay of British improvised music, an absolute
titan of the saxophone who continues to develop its sonic potential in
astonishing ways. He is no stranger to solo recording – this is the
nineteenth listed on his website. Some of these have explored the acoustics
of different spaces, such as The Very Fabric (2023), which was
recorded in a water tower, or my favourite of his solo recordings,
Resonant Spaces
(2008, reissued 2017). But Away, I Was is different: this is a
statement of Butcher’s musical vision.
All but two of the eight tracks were recorded on separate occasions (tracks
2 and 8 were recorded in the same session), meaning we are given a wide
survey of Butcher’s solo work, from 2008 up to the present. But the album is
not arranged chronologically, and so feels like a statement of who Butcher
is now. And, as someone relatively familiar with Butcher’s extensive
catalogue, I was surprised that what stood out to me most clearly throughout
the album was Butcher’s melodic prowess. On tracks like Brinks and Fujin’ I
was unexpectedly reminded of Steve Lacy’s solo recordings, the way he
brought together abstract lines with a wistful charm, which Butcher develops
by unobtrusively integrating multiphonics into his melody lines. He takes
his improvisations in unexpected directions, at times jaunty, at other times
pensive. There is great musical sensitivity here, and the way the album is
structured allows for real contrast and variety.
The fourth track is a performance of a transcription of the incomparable
Derek Bailey, who perhaps has done more than anybody else to define the
sound of British improvised music. This is a very unusual contribution on an
improvised music record, although it works perfectly – if you didn’t know it
was a transcription, you probably wouldn’t realise. Such is the clarity of
Butcher’s vision that I can imagine his own improvisations on this record
being transcribed by future generations of improvisers, which would surely
be a worthwhile endeavour for anyone brave enough to take up the task. And
this is the real strength of this record: Butcher shows himself to be a
master composer, with a keen sense of structure, theme, development
and the element of surprise.
There is a healthy mix of extended improvisations and shorter
improvisations, allowing the listener to experience both concentrated ideas
and the broader musical vision. Mirror Foil and Pricklings utilise specific
techniques in Butcher’s arsenal, and their short length is a demonstration
of restraint which makes them all the more enjoyable. Mirror Foil is a
particularly wonderful study utilising feedback with key clicks, creating a
unique and enthralling sound. Pricklings is an insight into an unrealised
project where Butcher overdubs himself playing two tenors and two sopranos;
anything more than this short minute would probably have felt out of balance
with the rest of the album. The use of varied recording techniques
throughout the album provides some welcome changes of texture that keeps
things interesting.
Away, I Was is an inventive and thoroughly enjoyable solo recording.
It’s full of surprises, but throughout we get a clear insight into Butcher’s
musical vision. It is clear that he has mastered his instrument, but such
are his skills as an improviser that his renowned technique is put to great
use in these wonderful spontaneous compositions. We get a sense of the full
scope of his work, including his creative work with amplification and
recording techniques, and I think anyone who gives this album a go will find
themselves charmed by the end.
Away, I Was is out now on Relative Pitch Records: