Theo Travis – Double Talk
Voiceprint
http://www.voiceprint.co.uk/

Rating:  A

British flute and sax player Theo Travis has quietly been making a name for himself recording with artists such as David Sylvian, Porcupine Tree and Robert Fripp over the years. As well he’s also been busy maintaining a burgeoning solo career since the early 90’s. Working primarily in the jazz and progressive rock field, one listen to the immeasurable talents of this gifted young musician is all it takes to see why everyone under the sun wants to work with him. If his latest effort Double Talk seeks to do accomplish anything it’s to further blur the lines between those two genres.

The sound is incredibly lush and warm, while the performances are absolutely sublime, from beginning to end on this collection of seven originals and one cover (a nice run through of the Syd Barett-era Floyd classic “See Emily Play”). One can feel the cohesiveness tying these compositions seamlessly together; it’s as if Travis and his band mates have been playing together since they were kids.

You want highlights? Ok I’ll give you a few of my favorite moments even though the whole disc is stellar from beginning to end. The sixteen minute “Oblivionville” can certainly be considered the centerpiece of the album. Special guest Robert Fripp colors the opening passages of this song with some of his trademark ambient guitar soundscapes and Pete Whittaker’s warm Hammond organ swells perfectly set the tone for subsequent solos from both Travis and guitarist Mike Outram. The psychedelic tinged, spacey feel of “The Relegation Of Pluto” reveals Travis firing on all cylinders as he rips of a series of fiery sax solo’s, while in contrast the dreamy, meditative tones conjured up by Travis and Fripp on “The Endless Search” and “Pallendream” balances things out perfectly. Two later tracks, the playful cover of “See Emily Play” is a look back at an era long  since gone, while the groovy  “Portobello 67” is most likely a reference to the famed west end London street and market.

Double Talk is quite simply a masterpiece that in my opinion defies categorization. Who cares if it’s not straight jazz for the purists or progressive rock for the nerdy intellectuals, all that matters in the end is if the music stirs something inside of you. The music contained here is simply beyond reproach.                     

    -Ryan Sparks