Morr, 2003
On their first full-length for Morr, Tied & Tickled Trio remain true to form. Their horn arrangements are as melodic as ever, caressing the air, even (occasionally) shouting over percolating, straight-forward electronic and percussive accompanyment. Although it’s hard to tell how much of this jazz is improvised, it’s definitely not as strict as Cinematic Orchestra’s glossy studio products. There are rough edges here as slow, dramatic build-ups burst at the seams. This is a perfect evening album, combining electronic ambience with honest, decent playing. Among my favorite tracks are “Freakmachine,” a solid groove with some really out-there sax playing, and “3.4.E,” a laid-back, meditative composition. T&TT, sometimes described as a side-project of The Notwist, is a group to watch. They’re also a group to collect as their older releases fall out of print.