Gatefold double LP
New Zealand is a land of infinite dimensions. If Flying Nun, Xpressway, Corpus Hermeticum, World Resources and the endless swathes of self-released lathe cuts weren't enough, there's also Wellington's Primitive Art Group to consider, a five-sometimes-six person collective engaged in the fine tradition of free jazz improvisation. Except in Wellington and New Zealand more generally, there wasn't really a tradition to draw on, certainly not while the group were active in early-to-mid 80s. That gives Primitive Art Group an element of the sui generis, and their being so out-of-sync/ahead of the curve is perhaps explanation as to why their music has been unavailable and somewhat 'lost' since its initial release, though it's not insignificant to note that they were very active in releasing music via their own imprint, Braille, and were organising concerts and festivals to showcase their interests. Be the thing you want to see in the world and all that ...1981-1986 does a job of gathering together all their recorded work, which includes two studio albums and a previously-unheard live recording from 1984. They may have been out of place at home, but this is music with plenty of contextual basis in the US, be that the free music titans of Albert Ayler, Ornette Coleman and Art Ensemble of Chicago, or the more iconoclastic dealings of the L.A.F.M.S., associations that make sense on learning that died-in-the-wool free music fan Thurston Moore has provided very gracious liner notes. 'Primitive' is a relatively loaded term with various connotations, but I'd assume what it's getting at here is instinct and intuition, of music removed from institutional orthodoxy and performed as 'pure expression'. And the Primitive Art Group are certainly very free, even if their live recordings suggest they're a touch more refined than their name might suggest. However you choose to understand it, this is inarguably intrepid music making of the kind that, despite its sonic differences, feels very true to the fearless spirit that has long guided that small country at the other end of the world. Another example of the kind of thing that happens when you leave a place and its people alone.
