Martin Archer and John Jasnoch have a musical relationship which goes all the way back to the early 1980s when they were both a part of jazz-punk pell mellers Bass Tone Trap. Over the subsequent years they have played and recorded together occasionally, previously as ASK, and now as this no frills improvised music duo which allows both musicians to utilise the full range of their respective instrumentation. This new work was recorded in the same place at the same time, one day in July 2021. The conversation continues.
"Although I’m frequently referred to as an “improvising musician”, only a tiny handful out of the dozens of albums I’ve recorded since 1980 have actually been free improvisation. I’m delighted these improvisations are in the company of John, with whom I’ve played, then not played, and then played again during the same 40 year period. With the exception of one editing intervention, these pieces are heard exactly as we created them." MA.
"The last time that Martin and I played in public (or anywhere for that matter) was in September 2019 in Manchester. There were plans for dates in 2020 but these were shelved for reasons we are all too aware of. We reconvened nearly 2 years later in July 2021 and created the music you hear here." JJ.
