Kit Downes - Vermillion (LP)
- LP
- 1 piece(s)
- 2022
- 11 tracks
- 45 min
- dark ambient
Vermillion
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4.0
Average of 3 reviews
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3
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Kit Downes is showcased on two recent albums, both outstanding in their unique ways. His jazz-rock trio's self-titled debut, Deadeye, finds him on Hammond organ, with the music often lively and energetic, though it does have its serene and expressive moments. Contrastingly, Vermillion is a piano trio jazz album that reminds me of ECM's style. Downes (piano) is accompanied by Peter Eldh (double bass) and James Maddren (drums). Manfred Eicher's pristine production sets the tone right from the opening track, which the album then delves into over the next forty minutes or so. The music is melodious, soft, detailed, subtle, and atmospheric. Downes and Eldh share the composition credits equally, and the album concludes with a rendition of Jimi Hendrix's Castles Made of Sand. It's an intimate and captivating record, with a wonderfully natural feel to the performance, and one I look forward to exploring more in the coming months. Perfect for getting lost in with headphones on late at night.
The tunes are chill and quite enjoyable. However, my vinyl could use some improvement - there's a fair bit of faint crackles despite giving it a thorough clean and using anti-static stuff.
This album is, musically speaking, absolutely stunning. The compositions and improvisations are smooth, intelligent, and showcase the direction that piano trios are taking as we step into the 21st century. The musicians perform and breathe in perfect harmony. Kudos to all involved. The pressing is quite good, though not flawless. There are a few ticks, pops, and some inner groove distortion. I gave it one clean with l’ADS fluid and vac, and there's noticeably more noise on side two. It's not the worst I've heard, but it's definitely there. There's also a *touch* of inner-groove distortion in the piano's high notes. I suspect there might be some mold release compound from the factory causing these issues—my fluid wouldn't spread evenly as I applied it, which is unusual. I'll give it another thorough clean and revisit my review if anything changes. The music is breathtaking, and the recording, engineering, and mastering are superb. The pressing is very good—but, as of now, not perfect. This is my first modern ECM pressing, and I must admit, I was hoping the sound quality would match the ECM pressings of old.
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| Date | Lowest price | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 2025 | $27.97 | €27.97 |
| Apr 1, 2025 | $27.97 | €27.98 |
| Jul 31, 2025 | $27.98 | €27.98 |
| Aug 17, 2025 | $27.98 | €27.98 |