Arthur Doyle - In Solo (2012)

Staggering new solo album from Wildman saxophonist, free vocalist and goddamn force of nature Mr Arthur Doyle in an ultra-limited hand-numbered edition of only 150 copies: Doyle is always best served solo, as the arc of his musically personality is so unique that even supposed ‘free’ musicians always seem to weigh on him more than liberate him. So this is a blast, the first solo recording in what feels like an age and he’s on great raw/soulful form. His saxophone sounds as feral as on Alabama Feeling, tearing heart and soul out of simply-stated single note melodic fragments and cussing the high register like a snake charmer. The recording quality is perfect, a little more hi-fi than we’re used to, and there’s a nice echo/reverb to the sound that gives Doyle’s overtone work a stoned, sci-fi edge. Indeed, the first side works as the perfect melding of classic Doyle tuneage, out folk blats and an inspired/cracked ‘just like Coltrane’ ‘feel’. The second side gets much further out, starting off with one of Doyle’s remarkable free vocal improvisations that span Africa to the future like nothing this side of Sun Ra, blurring modernist and primitive approaches with a raw emotionality that is truly devastating. Arthur’s vocal performances have reduced me to tears many times on stage and this might be the best ever recording of his torturously beautiful power-crying style. Truly, too much, and with more soul than any ‘soul’ singer you might wanna name. Then he moves onto flute and he makes it sound like the first instrument, playing the first music, on the first morning. An astounding LP, a goddamn tour-de-force of one of the true, natural, beyond avant garde, beyond mere musical primitivism, visionary folk spirits left on the planet. In Solo will break your heart and blow your mind. God bless Arthur Doyle. Highest possible recommendation!