Nevaris – SoundSession EP
Nevaris, a drummer, composer, and multimedia artist living in New York City, returns with the SoundSession EP, a four-track live-recorded collaboration co-written with famed bassist-producer Bill Laswell. This is Agustín Nevaris, Laswell, and their wide improvisational ensemble’s fourth collaboration, recorded at Orange Sound in New Jersey and released by Nolej Records. Although Laswell was unable to participate personally due to health issues, his artistic influence is strongly embedded in musical architecture. DJ Logic, Jonathan Maron, Will Bernard, Peter Apfelbaum, Jojo Kuo, Angel Rodriguez, Lockatron, and Matt Dickey all contribute to a very fascinating, groove-driven session that relies on dub, jazz, psychedelia, and improvisation.
Ninth Sun – Live: The EP begins with DJ loops and dub sounds mixed over experimental guitar riffs, creating a pleasant, psychedelic improvisational atmosphere. The interaction between turntable playing and guitar work sometimes recalls Portishead’s exploratory spirit. Instead of traditional vocals, DJ vocal loops lead the work, and around the 1:50 mark, saxophone enters and expands the mood into something more romantic and cosmic, balancing an almost 1980s romantic vibe with a free-jazz spirit characteristic of early Hawkwind. The effect is hypnotic and moving, taking the listener on a visually developing sound adventure.
Remedy – Live: Again, DJ loops kick off the movement, this time accompanied by blues-influenced guitar riffs. The groove is exotic but calm, with a laid-back flow that contrasts with the EP’s more uptempo sections. The saxophone appears early, rushing the sound spectrum with jazzy, nostalgic notes that create cinematic scenes, especially when heard through headphones. Around 1:40, dub grooves show up, increasing the psychedelic heartbeat and increasing the group’s improvisational chemistry.
Document: Guitar plays a larger part here, accompanied up by precise drumming and DJ loops that give the music a midnight, coastal-drive vibe. The work has both an inner and a spaced-out atmosphere. Despite the complex orchestration, the production (audio mix) is balanced, with each instrument contributing fairly without overpowering the sound. The arrangement fills the acoustic space with vibrant colours, emphasising the ensemble’s discipline in improvisation.
Dub Orchestra: “Dub Orchestra” lasts approximately 18 minutes and features reverbed exotic percussion and a laid-back, dreamy dub vibe. The audio mix seems “distant” but deeply unique, an ambient mood that rewards attentive listening. As the layers build, the track becomes deeper and hypnotic, encouraging the listener to join in with its atmospheric flow. It’s more of a state of mind than a song, with form, limitation, and collective instinct shaping an entire dub ritual.
Overall, the SoundSession EP is an evidence of collaborative improvisation rooted in dub philosophy and jazz studying. Considering your enthusiasm for experimental soundscapes and atmospheric layering, this EP will most likely relate to your interest in “virtual environments,” it relies on layers, space, and organic interaction rather than strict structure.
Nevaris photo by Michael Black
