robohands: palms
Francisco Espregueira
Following a magnificent body of work comprised by Green (2018), Dusk (2019), Shapes (2020), Violet (2022), London-based instrumentalist and producer Robohands (also known as Andy Baxter) is back with his latest sonic endeavor, Palms. Diving into new territories and musical arrangements, this record offers a rich tapestry of soundscapes, featuring elements like dueling harp parts, tape echo, and double bass. Baxter's inspiration for this album draws from the likes of pioneering artists such as Dorothy Ashby, Azymuth, Alice Coltrane, and Toquinho.
Palms is a sonically diverse voyage, occasionally saturated with tropical and synth-driven vibes and at other times stripped down to acoustic simplicity. It captures the essence of analog recordings from the late 60s and 70s while infusing a subtle touch of modernity through glitch FX and pitch control experimentation. The album pays homage to the legendary Arp Odyssey synthesizer featured in classic jazz fusion releases by luminaries like Herbie Hancock and George Duke. For this project, Baxter collaborated with a cadre of skilled session musicians, including Jim Piela on saxophone and Marco Cremaschini on Rhodes, while he handled drums, guitar, bass, keys, and mixing duties himself. Palms embarks on a fresh direction for Robohands, crafting a musical narrative that delves into modern interpretations of jazz, downtempo, acoustic, and ambient genres. Available on vinyl, courtesy of Bastard Jazz.