One of the better albums in
Rova's confusingly expansive discography,
From the Bureau of Both features some of the quartet's most immediately rewarding moments, as well as a few on the opposite end of the spectrum.
Rova can be surprisingly accessible when the group's free explorations are tethered to strong frameworks, and that's the case with much of this album. "Swang" became something of a signature piece for the group, featuring a jaunty, rhythmic opening riff that builds into a more complex main passage with several different parts, followed by some spirited group interaction. "Swapmeet! Swapmeet!!" and "Streak" follow a similar pattern: driving rhythms and catchy themes in the lower register, plus interlocking melodies over the top, all of which gives the group members solid bases from which to take flight in their solos. "Pinnacle" is a shimmering, swinging slow number, while "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" has the album's most boisterous, squealing free exchanges. The other two selections are sparely arranged sound explorations more in line with
Rova's 20th century classical influences, and the results are somewhat mixed -- specifically, "The Floater"'s light upper-register dissonances are intermittently intriguing, but simply meander too much at 18 and a half minutes. Still,
From the Bureau of Both is an undeniably strong listen overall, and in places it's even infectious, making it essential for anyone with an interest in the group. ~ Steve Huey