156. In a Silent Way - Miles Davis

Not an album I'd ever heard of, I had always thought that I would appreciate the work of the jazz greats. To my mind, they were the forerunners of the prog-rock scene, in terms of the experimental musical boldness, and although I wasn't sure I'd ever love them, I hoped I would learn to appreciate them.

With the insistence of a train, Shhh/Peaceful starts off all driving hi-hat. The noodling guitar and keys are more suggestive of the title, and over the course of the 18 minutes, the song finds itself in a clam and meditative place. The trumpet adds an element of focus, but it can be easy to zone out entirely; never a good sign for me. I don't doubt the skill required in performing or writing such music, and you can certainly appreciate new elements each time you listen to it, but it's hard to love something so explicitly cranial. The second. and title track has a more sedate opening but then develops into a more focused piece in a mirror of the opener. The bassline is more musical for me especially with the interplay alongside the organ

Fundamentally, a week is not sufficient time to develop a full appreciation for such a complex genre. I was thinking that this would be the sort of album you'd play in the background at a dinner party, but on reflection, I'm not sure I want to be the guy who plays Miles Davis whilst hosting a dinner party; I'm simultaneously too self-aware and not clever enough to be that individual.

Chloe's album rating: 6
Chloe's favourite track: 1. Shhh/ Peaceful
Olly's album rating: 4
Olly's favourite track: 2. In a Silent Way

Next week is 63. Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers