Bill Laswell
's musical career has been a highly collaborative one. Almost every new release from solo excursions to a variety of mercurial group projects finds him engaged with a notable instrumentalist from the arenas of
jazz
,
electronica
funk
hip-hop
reggae
, and
world
music. It's not that he seems dominating as a musician per se, but the results do typically bare the producer's singular aural stamp.
Horses & Trees
is no exception. Persuaded by
Laswell
to continue working throughout the second half of 1980s, drummer
Ginger Baker
produced some of his most stimulating collections, not least of which were the
produced
Middle Passage
and this 1986 set. The drummer is rock-solid throughout, which means that most of the compositions become a showcase for an impressive lineup of guest musicians that reads like a list of the
all-stars. Even when pared down to an all-rhythm trio on
"Mountain Time,"
Baker
, though undeniably effective, remains the big beat behind
Daniel Ponce
and
Aiyb Dieng
's percussion display. That does little to change the fact that this is one of the most enjoyable albums
(or
) has been involved in.
"Uncut"
finds the likes of
Bernie Worrell
Shankar
in fine form, taking solos like a
combo.
"Dust to Dust"
is the only piece composed solely by
(he shares credits everywhere else) and is the most stunning of the set with a repeated section that sounds like an alien hoe-down with world music undertones.
alumni and
pioneer
Grandmixer D.ST
(of
"Rock It"
fame) returns, delivering slashes from his turntable that provide the sort of genre-bending texture
is so fond of.
, while never caught stealing the show on any track, looms large. On
, his big beat pulls the greatest weight. ~ Nathan Bush