Faced with the question, “guess what the spherical object on stage is for?”, just prior to Troyka – Kit Downes’ new project with guitarist Chris Montague and drummer Joshua Blackmore – hit the stage, I laugh at how this highlights another intriguing gig set up on stage.
Using practically the same instrumentation as their support, Trio HSK, combining their jazz improvisation with more structured electronic looping, Troyka are all set to indulge their crowd with experimental jazz, which actually has me reminiscing about Warp’s Battles or Deerhoof, as they fuse oblique, frenetic guitar riffs of discord with blues, dirty blues.
Launching their third studio album, Ornithophobia, the Voodoo Rooms and it’s attentive crowd seems like the ideal spot for the Troyka trio to expose their band and their new record. Kit Downes, on analogue bass synth, has clearly taken a more avant-garde turn from his classically tuned jazz piano.
With a set up that included Stratocaster, Sonar drumkit and the bass synth as well as a nice array of effect pedals, the treat that we were in for can be anticipated. With a band sitting relaxed, perhaps mischievously so, calmly ploughing their way through the set, it is clear that this trio enjoy playing collaboratively, an enjoyment which immerses it’s way through the crowd. There was certainly a relaxed vibe from the audience, as many down the front sat on the floor approving this fairly new structured bluesy band.
Beginning with the title track, we are lured into their blatantly talented provisions and technological theatre set before us. Jazzy in style, juxtaposed with the punctuation of math rock, there is an evolve throughout this track in terms of tempo and instrumental build. Montague’s frenetic guitar lines throughout the rest of the set will no doubt be the basis of his trademark, as will Downes’ gristly adrenaline-charged finger work on the synth become the basis of his.
The London-based trio also indulged the crowd with tracks, Arcades, Crawler and Tax Return, which all highlight the obvious talent within this troika, the audience intently impressed by their space-jazz. Entranced by their fluid instrumentation which would occasionally be disrupted by exclamations of sound, the palpable crowd were seemingly approving of this fusion of flair, and new album, of which they modestly only had nine of on CD.
Obviously satisfying their listeners, there was evident camaraderie on stage, as they also satisfy themselves with this eye-catching performance. Cinematic, this set suitably places our aural juices on edge, with this zesty, visceral sound, which will soon have many crediting and throwing acclaim at these three musicians in the coming months.
Avant-garde, oblique, this recent fusion of Montague, Blackmore and Downes has tongues wagging in this dimmed venue, all from what I can gather surprisingly impressed with this act which is perhaps about forty/sixty on the side of improvised. However, this leaning towards the less formulaic jazz does also open the door for interest, and keep the crowd spellbound, aptly against the Voodoo Rooms black, sparkly backdrop. We can only hope for more of the same from this interesting Troyka.
