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Ancient Cosmic Truth is a four track EP from respected Italian composer and musician Louis Siciliano and arguably his best yet. He’s joined for this release by a five-star cadre of supporting musicians ranging from onetime Weather Report percussionist Alex Acuna, drummer Claudio Romano, tenor sax player Umberto Muselli, and trumpet player Randy Brecker. Siciliano’s contributions on synth are various and full of color; his playing compliments the others talents and never overshadows them. Each of the four songs never overstays its welcome; instead, the focus shown at every point during Ancient Cosmic Truth illustrates a musical artist who knows exactly what he wants and how to get there.
You hear that even during the opener “Bambara’s Symmetries”. The surefooted attack and intensely physical nature of their performances are one of the EP’s chief attractions. Few songs illustrate it better. Siciliano and the other musicians latch onto the song’s core melody and milk it for all its worth without ever flirting with mind-numbing repetition. The song’s jazz fusion influences are clear from the outset and Siciliano isn’t bashful about building off that foundation. It isn’t straightforward as Siciliano takes several detours throughout the course of the song without sacrificing its central motifs.
The brass section of Muselli and Brecker play important roles during the track “Translucent Dodecahedron”. Romano and Acuna, however, are the most important cogs in the machinery of this particular track and their fierce percussive attack keeps the song bouncing and moving from one passage into the next. It’s eye-opening to hear how the ensemble weaves the song’s disparate elements into an unified whole. The musicians are especially skilled at giving the song plenty of space where the track can breathe rather than overwhelming listeners. Nevertheless, it’s one of the most intense moments on the release and guaranteed to capture listeners’ attention.
“The Secret of Mansa” has a decidedly different slant. The elements working in the other songs are present here as well. Siciliano and the other players, however, temper their approach in a way that shows his compositional versatility without ever taking the EP into uncharted territory; “The Secret of Mansa” stays grounded in the same musical principles driving the other three songs. Brecker and Muselli deserve ample plaudits for their performance here, arguably their finest on the EP, and the nuance they bring into the song elevates an already outstanding composition.
The rambunctious edge present in “Ancient Cosmic Truth” is impossible to ignore. This is the EP’s band at their most daring and incorporating vocals, scat singing more or less, into the cut gives it a distinctly different flavor than any of the preceding performances. It doesn’t last for the entirety of the track and that’s a shrewd move as a full vocal might steer the song away stylistically from its counterparts. It’s a stunning and engaging finale to a powerful album that doesn’t pull any punches and wholeheartedly embraces its creative passions. Ancient Cosmic Truth is meant for more than jazz lovers alone and makes a valuable addition to anyone’s library.
Jennifer Munoz
