new slaves ZS

quite possibly the best LP released in 2010 (or for a few years for that matter). Zs formed way back when in 2000 and have had multiple configurations from a sextet (2 saxes, 2 guitars & 2 drums) to everything in between and now for "New Slaves" (released in 2010 on Social Registry, with amazing cover art from John Dwyer of Thee Ohsees, Coachwhips, etc) they are a trio of sax, guitar and drums but you wouldn't know it from the sound of the album. This is the fullest, most confounding, genre-defying and challenging record they've ever made. it's also worth noting that longtime co-founder Charlie Looker left after their 2007 album "Arms" to focus on his project Extra Life which left just the trio would didn't even know if they'd continue making music as Zs....read here.

this LP is definitely not for everyone to say the least. but if you are even remotely interested in new experimental music you have to hear this record. most of the time you can't even tell who is actually playing what...to quote Ben Ratliff in his review of "New Slaves" from the New York Times, "the saxophone ends up sounding like an electric guitar and the electric guitar ends up sounding like a dentist’s drill. The drums sound like subway wheels heard from half a station away, or a clapping game." as a double LP this is definitely an endurance test but there are so many ideas and sounds crammed in here that it's hard not to listen to the entire thing at a time. in fact, I can't remember the last time I sat down to listen to this LP and DIDN'T listen to the whole thing. you almost have to take it in it's entirety just to get an idea of what's going on.

for example:


if that's not enough to convince you then listen to New Slaves right here and get hip. Zs are at the top of the vanguard of new music right now. LP and CD versions of this album are both out of print so if you happen to find it at a record store I recommend buying it.