Ikarus - Chronosome

The Swiss group Ikarus release their second long-player in Nik B�rtsch's label Ronin Rhythm entitled 'Chronosome'. Ramon Oliveras - the drummer, composer and bandleader - cites Bartok, Meshuggah, Flying Lotus and Craig Taborn as catalysts for songwriting on this album. The group also includes the vocalist Stefanie Suhner and Andreas Lareida, Lucca Fries (piano), and Mo Meyer (bass). The five-piece is a prism through which influences drawn from Math Metal, Free Jazz, left-field Electronica, modern Pop and Contemporary Classical Music pass through, and create a very distinct sound signature on the output. They call their sound Evocative Jazz - a volatile mixture that emphasizes polyrhythms, minimal grooves, Nordic soundscapes and prog jazz deviations. The key ingredient that sets them apart from other contemporary outfits playing around with the Jazz idiom is their use of a wordless, abstracted blend of male and female vocals; as lead instruments and texture.