Dutch duo Dead Neanderthals (Rene Aquarius on drums and Otto Kokke on sax) see themselves as part of a scene known as the ‘new wave of Dutch heavy jazz’ which, leaving aside the brilliance of the name, effectively means that they play with the visceral energy of a punk band. Certainly ...And It Ended Badly, on which the duo are joined by fellow saxophonist Colin Webster, takes no prisoners.
Frenetic from the outset, this is unmistakably jazz of the twenty-first century; a decade in which the stylistic conventions of the genre have not so much been radically altered but instead consistently challenged. Dead Neanderthals are a brilliant example of how this has occurred. Their approach substitutes subtlety for tension, varying from the ticking clock variety at the start of ‘It Went on Days’ to the Shellac aping stop-start intro to ‘Weapons Drawn, Blood Spilled’. The latter is one of a number of moments on the album that is reminiscent of Otto Kokke’s other band, the bulldozing avant-rock monster that is Mannheim.
Of course having Webster along for the ride on this release allows a bit more depth than on previous Dead Neanderthals releases. With Aquarius a constant blur of movement in the background it’s left to Kokke and Webster to alternate between some ultra-brutal sax strangulation and more patient melodic phrasing. The opening to ‘Both Sides Fought Bravely’ sees the pair buzz and hums in something approaching joyous harmony, without ever letting the listener become too comfortable of course.
...And It Ended Badly’s masterful use of tension extends to its length. At only just over half an hour it’s perfectly judged so that the band’s approach doesn’t lose its charm. In fact just about the only negative that draws to a mind upon its conclusion is that it isn’t just a tad longer, for this is certainly one of the most enjoyable and listenable jazz records I’ve heard in the past couple of years. Guess I’ll just have to play it again...
