Review: Peter Gall - Love Avatar (Compost Records)

Compost Records have had their eyes on Peter Gall for the past six years since hisebut album as they can now release the jazz drummers second album, 'Love Avatar'.

Jazz drumming group/band leaders were de-rigeur in the be-bop days and the likes of Yussef Dayes, Seb Roachford, Nick Woodmansey (Emanative) and Teppo "Teddy Rock" Mäkynen (The Stance Brothers) to name a few, are some of the current 'new wave'.  

To that list we can add Peter Gall as the German who has written and produced the ten tracks on 'Love Avatar' and is supported by Wanja Slavin (saxes, flute, keys, synth), Reiner Baas (guitar), Rainer Böhm (paino, keys, synth), Matthias Pichler (bass) with Peter on drums, percussion and synth.

Last months' 12" of the 'Love Avatar' / 'Echoes Of A Dystopian World' (see review HERE), that happen to be the opening and closing tracks on the album, with some heavy 'meat' in the middle of the jazz sandwich.

'Luz Solar' and 'Heartbeat' best show the fusion influence and the BRUK/stutter/nu-jazz that's under-pinned by Gall's (the groups') love of giants such as Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter (particularly 'Oasis'), Hermeto Pascoal to Flying Lotus (all crammed into 'Heroes'?)

'Heartbeat' is ideal jazzdance manic is in huge contrast to the dark and light of 'Unreal' plus 'Love Lines' highlighed with some Metheny-esque wanderings that's very Jazz on 3 along with the synth-proggy 'Closing The Chapter' and 'Indie Flowers'.

I suspect this album is likely to become a reference point for many a future "Tomorrow's Warriors" as much as some of us remember the birth of the Nu-troop. 

Artist: Peter Gall

Title: Love Avatar  

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 635

Format:Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Peter Gall - Love Avatar / Echoes Of A Dystopian World (Compost Records)

It's not love actually, it's better that that with 'Love Avatar' as Peter Gall does it in his own name.

Similar in format to Michael Reinboth's single 'Let The Spirit' / 'RS6 Avant' (see review HERE) but totally different in approach as drummer/composer Peter Gall gets ready for the album, 'Love Avcatar'.

The title track is a brilliant take on 60s Blue Note jazz/fusion for a nu-jazz/broken generation for fans of Herbie Hancock in the 70s. It's that whimiscal/clever.

'Echoes Of A Dystopian World' is just that as it's got the depth of a OST and a live jazz gig; i.e. it's special.

Peter's worked in the past with Max Herre (see review HERE), Roberto di Giola (see review HERE) and some pretty popular bands as one of the best drummers in Germany so there's a big buzz for the follow-up to his debut album, 'Paradox Dreambox'.

Put it in your diaries, the album ' Love Avatar' is out on 27th September

Artist: Peter Gall

Title: Love Avatar / Echoes Of A Dystopian World

Release date: 2nd August, 2024

Label: Compost Records

Cat. No: CPT 635-5

Format:Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp