Swami Lateplate – Doom Jazz (Plays Music from the Imaginary Futurist Drama)

February 2008 • Veal Records

It's probably tough to be in an ambient jazz band, because no matter what you do, everyone is going to compare you to Bohren & der Club of Gore, and they are a tough act to beat. Some acts like the Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble do well enough with making a more original sound that helps differentiate them. Swami Lateplate doesn't do much of that, unfortunately. While they are faster, lighter, and more jazz-oriented than Bohren's very doomy approach (despite this album's title), there isn't much in particular about Doom Jazz that stands out above similar music.

They do have their sound nailed down pretty well. The drumming is the obvious focus most of the time; there is always some kind of ride pattern, cymbal improv, or tom or snare fills going on at some point, which are usually pretty good (although they are sometimes a bit show-offy and detract from the dark ambient feel). The sparse—and I mean sparse—interjections of bass and piano do up the doom ante pretty nicely, and it sounds good when they come in, especially when all three instruments play together (which isn't often enough). Here and there there are actual almost-rock-like bits where the bass and drums sync up for a nice little groove, something most other bands probably just can't pull off since they play so slowly. Unfortunately these moments are very rare.

But I think this album suffers a lot from too much improvisation and repetition (yes, that sounds contradictory, but it's true). A lot of the time it sounds like the drums just want to show off and play too complex or fast or loud which contrasts badly with the softer bits, and it switches back and forth very frequently, which can get jarring. The piano and bass are more consistently, tastefully, and subtly done, though, so it's not all bad.

Yet despite all the drum improv, the album does come off as a bit repetitous: each track sounds almost exactly the same, even after repeat listens, and the album is about an hour long of all the same thing. Having so few instruments playing is probably a big part of the perceived repetition, since it makes it more difficult to tell different tracks apart. But, on the other hand, that does mean that the album makes good background or reading music if you try not to pay attention (I guess that is the point of ambient music, after all), although I think the drummer would be upset to hear me say that.

All in all Doom Jazz certainly isn't a bad album but it isn't really good either, falling pretty squarely into the take-it-or-leave-it category where I'd probably rather listen to something else but it's not bad enough to warrant shutting it off. But if you get the chance, just listen to Bohren instead.

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