The American quartet Human Feel – reeds players Andrew D’Angelo and Chris Speed, guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel and drummer Jim Black was formed in Boston in 1987 and soon was one of New York’s most distinctive downtown bands of the mid 90s. 'Speak To It' was released to great acclaim in 1996 and is the fourth album of the quartet. Human Feel regrouped again in 2007 for 'Galore' (Skirl) and released its last album 'Gold' in 2019 (Intakt).
This new mastering of 'Speak To It' keeps the music of this quartet fresh, urgent and edgy. Human Feel was at the mid-nineties a powerful working band, fierce but also openly emotional, risk-taking but with an almost telepathic interplay, and a great sense of fun. Human Feel’s inclusive kind of downtown free jazz welcomed heavy riffs from Seattle’s grunge rock bands and irregular rhythmic patterns, injected a quirky sense of humor to its tight dynamics and sounded like no other band of the nineties. D’Angelo and Speed sound like identical twin brothers, always complementing each other’s ideas, and never surrender to familiar narratives; Rosenwinkel pushes Human Feel into unpredictable courses and often anchors the commotion; the hyperactive drumming of Black keeps all on their toes and supplies uplifting grooves. Great album.
Eyal Hareuveni
1. Darker Joys 02:35
2. Speak To It 06:47
3. Spaze 12:44
4. Not About You 04:53
5. Nimble Demons 08:06
6. Left Alone 04:16
7. Tic, Tics 04:37
8. Eno Eva Yood Nodi 08:32
9. Hey Roma Ain't Vein 04:34
10. Cat Teachers 07:28
Remastered Oct 2021 by Chris Gestrin for digital release. these files are 16/44.
Originally released May 15, 1996 on Songlines.
Andrew D'Angelo - bass clarinet, alto saxophone
Chris Speed - clarinet, tenor saxophone
Kurt Rosenwinkel - guitar
Jim Black - drums
