Houseplant (album)

Houseplant
Studio album by Jim Black and AlasNoAxis
Released	February 20, 2009
Recorded	September & October 2008 in Brooklyn, NY
Genre	Improvised music, jazz
Length	60:37
Label	Winter & Winter 910 154
Producer	Jim Black
Jim Black chronology
Dogs of Great Indifference (2006) Houseplant (2009) The Veil (2011)

Houseplant is the fifth album by drummer Jim Black's AlasNoAxis featuring clarinetist/saxophonist Chris Speed, guitarist Hilmar Jensson and bassist Skúli Sverrisson recorded in 2008 and released on the Winter & Winter label.^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
AllAboutJazz	[3]

In his review for Allmusic, Dave Lynch said "it would be inaccurate to describe Houseplant as stifled music -- the nearly epic title track might even be heard as soundtracking the titular foliage’s dream of escape, complete with the walls tumbling down -- but at the very least Black, even with his often economical and even understated drumming here, seems intent on exploring how deeply held emotions can be expressed with a minimum of adornment".^[2] On AllAboutJazz Glenn Astarita stated "Once again, the leader and his comrades uncannily merge a cheery vibe with modern jazz improvisation and hardcore rock parameters that nicely blend into one neatly wrapped package"."^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Jim Black

1. "Inkionos" - 4:45
2. "Cahme"- 4:36
3. "Houseplant" - 7:09
4. "Fyr" - 1:05
5. "Malomice" - 7:09
6. "Littel" - 4:32
7. "Elight" - 5:55
8. "Naluch" - 5:08
9. "Cadmium Waits" - 3:25
10. "Adbear" - 7:23
11. "Lowers in a Nine Sense" - 5:03
12. "Downstrum" - 3:45

Personnel

• Jim Black - drums, laptop
• Chris Speed - tenor saxophone
• Hilmar Jensson - electric guitar
• Skúli Sverrisson - electric bass

References

1. Winter & Winter discography, accessed November 27, 2014
2. Lynch, Dave. Jim Black – Houseplant > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
3. Astarita, G., AllAboutJazz Review, October 9, 2009