MetaQuorum, a new project in the last few years from Dmitry Ermakov, a Russian-born British composer/keyboardist who operates out of the UK, is something else. Also featuring drummer/audio engineer Koos Van der Velde and composer/bassist/guitarist/arranger Victor Mikheyev, MetaQuorum’s sound is undefinable. With their newest album, Witchcraft Jazz, MetaQuorum delivers high-quality songwriting in a complex yet digestible way, with catchy, instantly danceable melodies and tight, confident rhythm.
As mentioned above, the sound of MetaQuorum is something of an anomaly. It’s Frank Zappa-esque compositions combined with Weather Report-style fusion, but there’s an element of hard-hitting liquid funk and improvisational jazz, as well as prog rock. Referring to the style as Meld, Ermakov produced this album as an instrumental piece for a specific reason.
In an interview with Claire Dupree of NARC magazine, he says: “The album is about music, about creativity, about sound. There’s no other message here. Everything is over-politicized nowadays, but with an instrumental album we have the luxury of concentrating on the music itself. Art for art’s sake, if you like.”
It is certainly that, as spidery keyboards flash through the surging rhythms, slapping bass, and constantly shifting melodies.
I don’t know if I’ve ever heard music that sounds more like the future while also reminding me of old-school videogame soundtracks. It’s like Castlevania and Mario Kart met Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock for lunch and they decided to make an album. It’s the perfect record for someone with music ADD, as ideas tend not to stick around for too long, and the range of different sounds and melodic directions is almost overwhelming.
I’m honestly not even sure how else to describe this album. It rips and it ripples, it stutters and screams, it peels apart layer upon layer of sound and dissects it, building something new in the process. After listening all the way through, I can’t wait to start again. It’s a dynamite record full of refreshing sounds, melodies, and textures. If you’re into outside-the-box instrumental music with a heavy dose of futuristic improvisation and a mind-melting sound, Witchcraft Jazz is for you.
Rating: 10 out of 10
