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Extrema Ratio: A Dangerous Method

By Mark Corroto
May 19, 2021
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In 1989,

John Zorn

saxophone, alto
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">John Zorn, in the liner notes of Spy Vs Spy (Elektra), a cover album of Ornette Coleman compositions, thanked (among many) the bands Napalm Death, Blind Idiot God, and The Accused, before finishing with "Fucking hardcore rules. Smash racism." Zorn's music comes slamming back to mind with A Dangerous Method from Extrema Ratio, because the timing is right for improvised music to return to hardcore. "Naked Convulsions" opens the disc with a sample of the writer William Burroughs explaining, "Nothing is true, everything is permitted; everything is permitted because nothing is true." These prophetic words may never have been more accurate given the first casualty in the presidency of Donald Trump was truth.

The quartet of vocalist XlaidoX, baritone saxophonist Alessandro Cartolari, drummer Diego Rosso, and Valdjau Kathportha on electronics reanimate Zorn's bands Naked City and Painkiller with the primal screams of vocalists Yamatsuka Eye and

Mike Patton

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Patton of The Dillinger Escape Plan. That opening track blasts screeching baritone against off-kilter beats and megaphone declarations to wake up. Throughout, the thickness of electronic pulse, baritone saxophone and bass drum kits, acts as heavy artillery. When the quartet switches back and forth between the thrashing speed violence and the quietude of strained whispers on "I 8 Indifference," they work a juxtaposition to great effect. "Asthenic Rite" works an oxymoronic loud ambient post-apocalyptic path with the assistance of Luca Benedetto's trumpet and Fritz Welch's spoken words. By the time we get to the hardcore pulse of "Revolution" with words from Mao Tse-tung calling for a class war, it's clear we're not in Kansas anymore.

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Track Listing

Naked Convulsions; Lust Of Death; Theorem; I 8 Indifference; Asthenic Rite; Revolution.

Personnel

Extrema Ratio

band / ensemble / orchestra

Alessandro Cartolari

saxophone, baritone

XlaidoX

vocals

Valdjau Kathportha

electronics

Diego Rosso

drums

Fritz Welch

vocals

Luca Benedetto

trumpet

Album information

Title: A Dangerous Method | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Alma De Nieto

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