If you knew beforehand that Nick Schofield’s primary instrument used to be the drums, you probably wouldn’t expect to hear the sounds that are coming your way from his latest album, Dream On. Yet, with inventive, inspired and well-versed artists, as Schofield presents himself here, you should expect the unexpected, particularly if it turns out that the sounds are something you want to hear. After all, the primary instrument shouldn’t mean much anyway. Take Barry Adamson as an example; he dabbles with drums on occasion.
But let’s stick with Schofield, who actually deals mostly with electronics these days, and his take on them is more leaning towards the jazzy side of ambient rather than what you would expect from ‘pure’ ambient or electro-pop these days. Actually, it seems that for ‘Dream On’ Schofield took cues from Miles Davis’ seminal album In A Silent Way.
And while Schofield might have had a sort of a tribute somewhere in his thoughts, instead of picking direct notes or even pieces from Davis, he actually went for the feel and the mood of the album that inspired him adding to it rhythmic touches that are more in tone with current tendencies in ambient and post-ambient music with Schofield doing the electronics and drums and Montreal-based trumpeter Scott Bevins actually being an equal partner here, bringing in those Miles touches that make Schofield’s electronics and rhythmic pattern the foil they need to stand out.
Oh, and the Dream On title is a perfect fit for this late-night delight.
