Equipment Pointed Ankh

Equipment Pointed Ankh

Eggs A Little Late

Petty Bunco

In a time when cleverness is prized over belly-busting fun, in a musical landscape that worships genre over invention, and in a world increasingly begging computers to think on our behalf — Equipment Pointed Ankh’s fifth studio album Eggs A Little Late (out 11/28 via Philly’s indomitable Petty Bunco label) arrives an abundantly refreshing gift, truly funny and smart. Recorded in bandleader Jim Marlowe’s studio End of an Ear (Louisville, KY) off and on over the last three years, the core Ankh crew (Marlowe, Chris Bush, Dan Davis, Ryan Davis, Shutaro Noguchi) gathered when they were able to get serious about play, along with some new and returning guests (Eric Lanham, Jeannine Lonardo, Trevor Nikrant, Jenny Rose, Ryan Swigart, Ben Traughber and Seth Manchester.) How do so many people (having this much fun) make a record so singular and cohesive? I don’t know, exactly, but I’ve heard a few rumors. Dan Davis once told me that Ankh operates with a radically democratic process: no single part stays unless there is unanimous enthusiasm for it. If any one person doesn’t dig any one cowbell hit, it’s cut — and so the bonsai is trimmed. Listening to these miracles of tracks, I can hear that balance of freedom and restraint. Music made in this spirit (jamming, free improv, whatever you want to call it; Roscoe Mitchell called it “composing in real time”) often feels like it can percolate forever, occasionally over boiling. Ankh’s recordings never come close — they glint...

Equipment Pointed Ankh

Without Human Permission

Astral Editions

***Throughout the years EQUIPMENT POINTED ANKH has focused on a sort of long-form blown out raga, noise, drone vibe with various players joining JIM MARLOWE at varying intervals. Within the past 2 years we've seen this core group of five come together as a unit—Marlowe with CHRIS BUSH (Flanger Magazine, CABOLADIES, FLOWER MAN), RYAN DAVIS (STATE CHAMPION, TROPICAL TRASH), SHUTARO NOGUCHI (Feeding Tube artiste) and DAN DAVIS (Tropical Trash). Sometimes it can be a bit cliche to harp on "their new album is a game changer, new direction, etc.," I'll admit, I'm guilty of this. But seriously, Without Human Permission, is an an absolute game changer and new direction for Equipment Pointed Ankh. Go listen to as many of their earlier albums as you'd like (it's worthwhile). You still will not be prepared for Without Human Permission.