Julian Arguelles - Doublespeak (2024) [Hi-Res]

Ever since his emergence into in the fertile London scene of the 1980s with the seminal Loose Tubes, saxophonist/composer Julian Argüelles has maintained his position in the front rank of contemporary musicians with a career that has matched a comprehensive musicality with an endlessly inquisitive, searching disposition. Whether composing for large ensembles like HR Frankfurt and the NDR Big Band, pioneering the frontiers of music in the company of John Taylor, Carla Bley and Kenny Wheeler, or immersing himself in the rich traditions of South Africa, his music-making is always characterised by a generous engagement with his audiences and a questing sense of adventure.

DoubleSpeak invites the listener to join Julian at the latest stop along the journey, presenting his unmistakable voice in a brand-new creative setting. This set of twelve recordings was created by Julian in the studio, using the affordances of cutting-edge music software to explore the interface where the timeless sound of breath, reed and mouthpiece combine with the limitless possibilities of digital technology. Julian’s brother Steve Argüelles and his long-time collaborators Martin France and Helge Andrea Norbakken each bring their unique personalities as percussionists into the series of virtual spaces that Julian creates. Still, ultimately the album presents the unalloyed Argüelles personality: adventurous, fearlessly improvising, but always emotionally direct and engagingly melodic.

The album’s creative process inverts the usual techniques of jazz recording - improvisations can be turned into compositions, sparking fresh improvisation and suggesting new and untried sonic combinations. Building on the tradition established by John Surman with his seminal ECM records, Julian has been experimenting with the expanded solo voice since the 1990s. “I love this way of making music! It’s such a change from the collaborative quartet or trio - I can change the music however I like, use the programme to suggest new possibilities, expand or contract the number of voices whenever I feel like it.”

Each tune has its own distinct personality, concisely expressed, giving the collection the succinct character of a pop album leavened with the depth of Julian’s musicality. ‘Slipstream’ expands the woodwind section up to big-band level over a bluesy shuffle. ‘Top Hat Of Night’ has a stately mystique, while ‘Emel’ has a folky lilt over its ambient textures that contrasts strikingly with the rambunctious funk and blazing tenor solo of ‘Get Down and Give Me 50’. Other influences abound; “Para Percy’ is for trumpeter/composer Percy Pursglove, ‘Superspreader’ duets with Martin France - “Martin and I hear music the same way - he’s one of my favourite accomplices” - and ‘The Juggler’ features Julian duetting with the software to create unique randomised patterns. ‘Pale Blue Dot’ was named for the earth as seen from space, and ‘Biafra’ evokes the powerful musical traditions of West Africa and the Yoruba people in particular. The natural world appears again as the baritone sax evokes the titular animals in ‘Hippopotamuses’, and in ‘Murmuration’, which features twin sopranos soaring and weaving like birds in flight. Finally ‘Jayess’ is named as an overt tribute to John Surman, using his signature palette of baritone and electronica.

Julian says “Each tune led it’s own way - I’ve always enjoyed making music that’s both accessible and weird at the same time. With new tech, there’s a tendency to use it in obvious ways and fall into pitfalls - I tried to stay away from obvious digital looping and warping effects and make an album that really appeals to the listener on its own merits. Ultimately I want to make music that I’m proud of, make it as good as possible and not get distracted by the constant noise of modern living.”

Julian Argüelles - saxes
Steve Argüelles - drums/percussion
Helge Andrea Norbakken - drums/percussion
Martin France - drums/percussion