The Sky Above the Roof

Harp, bass, drum – doesn’t sound much of an energy-hogging power trio. But Solus 3 manage to generate plenty of heat and light with The Sky Above the Roof. Numerous guests crop up to layer and texture; it’s a densely recorded album with a lot of detail to it. Soprano Stacey Clark sings the title song, and other guests include throat singer Elii Geba, Transglobal Underground’s Sheema Mukherjee on sitar, acclaimed young Transglobal Underground singer Krupa, trumpeter James Williams, and guitarist Seb Hunter. It’s a strange and discombobulating brew, easy to sink your head into, with a trip-hoppy, lightly dubby feel combined with some of the dynamics of classical chamber music, and modern jazz’s loosely structured improvisation. Classical harpist Julia Thornton ranges from lead voice to supporting player, with TGU drummer Hamilton Lee keeping the front and back in order. Bassist Ian Blackaby of psychedelic krautrock band Lunar Dunes drops thick, heavy bass notes as if they were scatter cushions.

Much of the material was improvised over two days of live sessions at a London studio, with further sessions reeling in ‘Romance De La Luna, Luna, Luna, song adapted from a Lorca poem featuring Williams’ cool, mournful trumpet. The album closes with the 12-minute ‘Mobius Trip’ a journey into the interior to semi-recline to. All in all, it’s slightly noodling, but compelling and pungent enough to let you kick back and soak it all in.