Rare is the band that has a unique sound with a feel of experimentation but still be accessible to modern ears. Such is the success of The Stratos Ensemble, consisting of Dean De Benedictis/p-key-voc, TJ Sammut/g, Robert Gross/b, Coco Roussel/dr-synth, Shaunte Palmer/tb and Nichole Michelle Jones/voc. The album mixes styles and moods, with ideas gleaned from Weather Report in terms of textures and drive, Brian Eno for ambience and sonic wallpaper and even a dash of Kraftwerk for techno pulses, with Palmer’s trombone bringing in a jazz feel and Jones’ voice veering between earthy poetics and fiery declarations.
The palpable atmospheres are felt on the electric moody “Together In Flames” as Jones veers around Palmer and Sammut like a pedestrian in Times Square. Roussel’s cymbals gallop through the nimbus cloud of voices and pulses, with De Benedictis’ piano gracefully galloping to Gross’ bass line before handing off the baton to Sammut on the spontaneously charged “Dunn”.
Brian Eno-ish ambience is felt with synthscapes floating around Gross and Roussel on “No Stranger” and a take of a McCoy Tyner lick is picked up by Benedictis’s trickling piano as Jones gets urgent with support from Sammut’s rocking strings on “Up Tyner”. The juxtapositions of sonic environments and rollicking rhythms makes for a sweet and tangy flavor throughout the entire album, pleasing fans of fusion jazz on “Ray of Night” and “When Reminded of Arcadia” as well of meditative pastoral panoramas as on the reflective “Lighthouse”.
Much of the album was recorded “live”, so the music makes you wonder how it looks like when performed. When are they hitting the streets?