After having set Ghostdeinis’ »Sour Soul« to music last year, the Canadian band BadBadNotGood is taking their latest LP »IV« back to the roots. Parts of their shared roots have always grown rampantly towards jazz, even including academic consecrations, considering that Matthew, Chester and Alexander used to be the Hip Hop Heads at Humber College. Hence, after their foundation in 2010, their musical output was mostly shaped by jazz-infected instrumental hip hop. And that went down well. Even with Tyler, The Creator who was one of the first to help them gain publicity. However, especially from the jazz crowd, critical voices grew louder, too, calling BBNG elevator-musicians. Hence, »IV« can be interpreted as their answer to the sceptics, especially after having grown from a trio into a quartet: since Leland Whitty has started to support BBNG (on the saxophone amongst other instruments), their sound has become denser and more atmospheric. It also works well for their guests Samuel T. Herring Colin Stetson and Charlotte Day Wilson. Furthermore, the rather repetitive song arrangements on »IV« are moving forward with such finger-snapping ease that their soli are given room to enfold. During the record’s promotion, it was compared to the cult band Weather Report – and rightfully so, especially with a view to the title track, which, in addition to jazz, seems to follow the paths of rock and probably takes the word »fusion« much more seriously than the other tracks. Of course, BBNGs Chester Hansen still hasn’t become Jaco Pastorius, but then again – who ever has? Plus, who knows if the day might not come, after all…? And »IV« sure is a good starting point to carry on.
IV
