James Holden teams up with experimental jazz man Waclaw Zimpel for new LP
Hear ‘You Are Gods’ right now
James Holden has told Juno daily it was an “incredibly freeing” experience to make an album with Polish clarinet player Waclaw Zimpel.
Zimpel – who recently teamed up with bass legend Shackelton for a second time – and Holden’s The Universe Will Take Care Of You sees both virtuosos branching out beyond the instruments with which they made their name.
Holden supplements his bespoke computer and modular synths with his long-neglected childhood violin, and a new collection of hand percussion. On certain tracks Zimpel forgoes his alto clarinet altogether, in favour of electric piano, organ, lap steel guitar, airless harmonium and the Indian twin pipe algoza flute.
“For me playing with Waclaw has been incredibly freeing,” Holden told us, “total ego transcendence, so this one’s the most cosmic peace-and-love record i’ve ever been involved in and I’m really happy we’re putting it out into the world now”
The pair have shared the first track to emerge from the LP – set for release on June 13, with a CD version also available – titled ‘You Are Gods’