This Anger is a Liar documents the debut album of the free-improvising trio featuring Portuguese sax hero José Lencastre, on alto and tenor saxes, double bass and electronics player João Hasselberg, and Danish prolific drummer Kreesten Osgood, who also uses his voice as a dadaist device. The trio was recorded live at BOTA in Lisbon in September 2023, during their first-ever performance and a tour in Portugal.
This trio sounds as eager to explore sonic possibilities and take risks, at times sounding introspective and lyrical, and at other times quite volatile. Lencastre suggests free jazz textual ideas, but they are open to negotiation. Hasselberg anchors the commotion and introduces subtle electronics that add an elusive, otherworldly dimension. Osgood’s free conception of time-keeping adds stimulating tension, and his wordless vocals intensify the trio’s subversive, restless spirit. This trio has established an immediate, profound camaraderie and sounds as if its music flows with an organic, intense power. Osgood sings the last, title piece as a compassionate, bluesy gospel, highlighting the life-affirming essence of this great performance and album.
Smoop is Lencastre’s new free improvising quartet with young Greek musicians – alto sax player Nicky Kokkoli (of the Greek-Swedish band Ahanes), guitarist, bass-synth and live electronics player Jannis Anastasakis (who recorded a yet-to-be-released album with Arve Henriksen), and drummer Simos Riniotis (of the local free-improv Skraut).
Smoop completed its first tour in Lisbon, Porto, Parede, and Athens, where it recorded its debut album at Antart Studio in Athens in March 2024. Evergreen offers only three pieces and lasts only 22 minutes. But Smoop packs this short time with tons of intense energy and experiments with distorted, layered, spiky avant-rock and psychedelic sounds. Lencastre and Kokkoli build a powerful and fiery alto sax frontline, while Anastasakis and Riniotis charge the commotion with manic power and open the music with free pulses.
The sculpture on the album’s cover is by Greek artist Natalia Manta, who co-organised and curated the audio-visual live improvisation session «Sound of Color» in Athens with Anastasakis.
Eyal Hareuveni
José Lencastre (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone), João Hasselberg (double bass, electronics), Kresten Osgood (drums, voice), Nicky Kokkoli (alto saxophone), Jannis Anastasakis (guitar, synth-bass, live electronics), Simos Riniotis (drums)
