Sworn Eyes by H.I.M.

03 Apr

Written by Lee Prosser
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Who H.I.M? H.I.M. is the nom de musique of sometime-rock drummer Doug Scharin and whom-ever else is around for the ride. Said ride in this case is shared bysome of the most creative lights of the Chicago jazz, improv and underground rock scenes. A.A.C.M./Tortoise guitarist Jeff Parker and Chicago Underground Duo/Trio cornestist Rob Mazurek do some beautiful work here, both texturally and solo, especially Mazurek with his subtly Miles-ian mute playing. SWORN EYES takes its cues from BITCHES BREW/SILENT WAY-era Miles, and melds in African/Indonesian trance motifs, spacious, disorienting dub effects and punchy jungle rhythms. This is not "theme-solo-theme" music or let's-mellow-groove fuzak. This is for noir yet tropical moments, when you're reading William Gibson, James Ellroy or Rod Serling's biography late at night.