A jazz fusion trio featuring drums, bass, and harp? That alone makes Obverse stand out, but what makes it truly special is how seamlessly it all comes together. Despite the lightness of touch in the playing, the EP conjures an immense, cinematic scope, balancing lush beauty with gripping intensity, flowing effortlessly as if these musicians have been playing together for years.
Chris Allison (drums), Dan Bridges (bass), and Emily Hopkins (harp) navigate complex time signatures and unexpected detours with telepathic chemistry, with intricate, shifting rhythms and gorgeous, winding melodies throughout. It’s a dreamlike listening experience, but not in the way you’d expect from a harp-driven jazz project, catching the listener off guard whilst still sounding soothing. It’s technically dazzling and full of unexpected twists, and you don’t have to be an experimental jazz aficionado to appreciate it - just someone willing to let music surprise you, sweep you up, and take you somewhere completely new.