MERIDIAN STEPS is one of those albums that you’ll hear something new every time you listen.
Alessa Records
Felix Biller – Keyboards, voice (track 1); Martin Melzer – Bass, voice (track 6); Christoph Karas – Drums; Lukas Lauermann – Cello (track 5)
Prim’s bass player, Martin Melzer, explains the band’s music like this. “Our music is a bit like ordering a scoop of everything at the ice cream parlor and then mixing it wildly.” After listening to MERIDIAN STEPS his explanation doesn’t sound all that crazy.
Felix Biller on Keyboards and Christoph Karas make up the rest of Prim. Based out of Vienna they’ve been together since 2015. They’re kind of a jazz trio but, sometimes, not so much.
There’s a lot of classical music references but there are nods to folk, rock, and I hear things that could have happened at a circus. And was that a tip of the hat to Liberace?
‘Clarity, ’the first song on the album, has a sprightly piano intro with some snappy drum work pushing things along. Biller starts talking. It’s low in the mix so it’s harder to hear.
It’s almost as if he’s talking to himself. It’s a story that doesn’t go anywhere. Then the piano’s back, unfazed. Melzer’s bass is warm and melodic. Karas is terrific on drums. This is lovely piano jazz.
‘Trails ’starts with a distorted bass. There’s a muffled electric piano. I feel like I’m walking down a creepy circus fairway. That bass is getting louder.
A Moog synthesizer keeps trading place with an electric piano. There’s a regular piano playing as well. Drums are high in the mix throughout MERIDIAN STEPS. I don’t hear any brushes. Karas likes making his drums snap.
Plucked bass and cello strings introduce ‘Separation Reimagined.’ Austrian cellist Lukas Lauermann makes just one appearance on MERIDIAN STEPS but it’s one of the highlights of the album.
His first solo, accompanied by piano, is elegantly jazzy. Keyboards and cello take turns soloing. The three cello solos show how comfortably Lauermann can play in different musical styles.
Martin Melzer chants, “What d’ya do? Agitate?,” at the beginning of ‘Madison 71.’ Thumping bass, a very pop piano, and those snappy drums take over. Things get very quiet, Melzer chants, “One day you will be in trouble.” Then piano, along with the rest of the trio, finish the song.
‘Father Jai, ’a pretty straight ahead jazz piano trio tune, is the last song on the album. Biller doesn’t use a lot of block chords. He’ll throw out little single note flourishes.
He’s a thoughtful player. I like the way he takes his time to make sure the music sounds just so.
I’m new to the music of Prim. MERIDIAN STEPS is one of those albums that you’ll hear something new every time you listen.
