Moth Bucket, the improvising trio of Kevin Sims, James Searfoss, and Justin Dorsey, has crafted a fierce dialogue between texture, rhythm, and amorphous soundscapes on their new record. Vagary Suite weaves influences from drone, electro-acoustics, and the wild spirit of free jazz to create a compelling listening experience.
Vagary Suite was released in November, and it’s another excellent record from New York-based Kingston Recordings that’s been on The Third Eye’s radar.
Free jazz fans will find much to admire here. The trio’s fearless commitment to spontaneity is exemplified in how they allow their instruments to converse freely as if speaking in a language of their own invention.
“Glint” opens the album with a prelude, functioning as an overture to the unpredictable adventure ahead. In “Once Threw,” the trio dives headfirst into clatter and clamor, with Dorsey’s bass stepping forward as a commanding force. His gestures are clear and radical, reshaping the soundscape with a deliberate confidence.
The haunting “Chiffon Blues” begins with Sims’ psaltery, evoking a mournful yet tender atmosphere. It’s as though the trio has stumbled into a back-alley blues session where time stretches and bends.
Searfoss’ saxophone enters with raw energy. Meanwhile, a walking bassline and tumbling percussion provide a grounding rhythm, allowing the piece to oscillate between melodic sweetness and tumbling chaos.
“Until” offers a dizzying interplay of sustained tones and fragmented, swirling metallic percussion. Tape loops murmur mysteriously in the distance, creating a sense of orbiting through unknown, celestial territory.
Tension is the lifeblood of this trio’s sound. Each track bristles with dynamic contrasts – tight yet expansive, chaotic yet controlled.
Sims, Searfoss, and Dorsey thrive on maintaining a delicate equilibrium, pulling the listener through landscapes that feel alien. Their music is an invitation to lose oneself in the textures and rhythms and revel in unpredictable beauty.
Check out Vagary Suite by Moth Bucket on Bandcamp here.
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