Wolf Eyes & Anthony Braxton — Live At Pioneer Works

Here from ESP-Disk' is a release of 2023 collaboration between Chicago avant jazz saxophonist/ composer Anthony Braxton and Detroit’s noisemaking duo Wolf Eyes. The release takes in two sixteen to nineteen-minute tracks, coming in the form of either a vinyl or CD release. I’m reviewing the latter.

The CD comes presented in a mini black gatefold- on its front, we get a square cut-up collage of what looks like a picture of the American Civil War. Inside, we find minimal white text against black, with the cover picture repeated in close-up on the CD face. The release can be purchased directly here 

The recording dates from 26 October 2023, when the three-piece played at New York's Pioneer Works. The lineup was Anthony Braxton- alto, sopranino & bass saxophones. Johnny Olson- pipes & electronics, and Nate Young- electronics, vocals & harmonica.

The tracks are simply titled Side A & B. So the first is longer of the two at five seconds off the twenty-minute mark. It opens with a blend of saxophone, which shifts between uneasy & baying- this is backed by sinister on ‘n’ off droning, with subtle noise tone pulls here & there.  As we progress, there are moments of a more rapid to more bluntly baying sax playing- around these we find drifts of foreboding, to hissing, swirling, and lightning searing noise texturing.  Later on, a weird, uneven percussive clapping electro tone comes into play- as we move towards a wonky and wavering crescendo of sorts.

The second track slides in at just under the sixteen and a half minute mark. It opens up quite full/ busy with a looping pipe-like hum,  rapidly slicing ‘n’ hissing noise tones, and bass-bound wailing-to-baying saxophone work. By around three and half minute mark, a spaced-throbbing synth bass tone has appeared, as things thin back- but this is only a brief break- as fair soon wailing coils of sax tone & slidingly searing electro noise tone come into play. By around the seventh minute, a spacing almost rhythmic fuzz has come into place, which is seared by both rapidly oscillating noise tones and horn darts.

I believe this set is the third or fourth time Mr Braxton & Wolf Eyes have collaborated. The first track is certainly a little more spaced & moody, while the second is more active & dense. With both tracks, the three players improvise well together to create an eventful crossover between jazz and experimental noise craft.

If you enjoy where brooding to light searing noise craft meets moody to manic horn playing, then Live At Pioneer Works will appeal.