Liverpool Jazz outfit Olvine return with new double single 'Starcruiser'!

Amid Britain’s growing Jazz scene, Liverpool-based Olvine has released a new double single ‘Starcruiser’. Following their live album ‘All Yours Mate’ and vibrant EP ‘Brady’s Caravan’, the band’s recording style highlights the importance of live playing. Effectively engaging in the genre, virtuosic players combine unexpected bursts of melody with propulsive rhythms, shooting back and forth. Their take on Jazz fusion is evocative of Liverpool’s rich scene while maintaining, as described by themselves, a unique, "kaleidoscopic" voice. 

The first half of the release, titled ‘Out Of Hours Emergency Callout’, establishes this. Harry Simmonds pairs isolated keys with hushed vocals and gently calls to the other members as though asking someone to bare the load that subdues him. Disjointed yet impactful, Thomas Benson’s drums instinctively respond and summon the others to join. The call-and-response technique is extremely effective and it feels as though each musician helps carry the weight until they flow into a seamless force. As sporadic motifs are thrown between the players, isolated bursts of music intensify the journey of the song causing a palpable energy. Highlighted in the brass section, trumpet player Martin Smith, begs to be heard, his expressive style, successfully, piercing through; helping further increase momentum.  

The following song ‘Of Course’ offers a cathartic release after the unpredictable rhythmic and melodic outbursts prior. Raw and collective, the ensemble explores a shared motif as the other side is reached; fragments of cheers and laughter caught in between. 

At its core, Olvine captures the essence of Jazz. An intrinsically improvisational, collaborative, and responsive art form, often lost within a world of pretension and artifice. A refreshing listening experience, Olvine places you in the room with the artists and establishes a sense of authenticity. The intended effect is achieved and, as melodies swing around the room from player to player, a kaleidoscopic experience enhances mood above all else.