DERECK 2 is a solo project from a US Mid-West pro bass player and general all-rounder DERECK HIGGINS.
It's gentle MOR stuff with the courage to reach out into ambient and electronic sources. It’s OK. It’s even quite rich and pleasant. Dereck's big baritone voice does sound a little like Zappa vocalist Ike Willis, and I did find it difficult not to feel just a little satirical during the smoother jazzish sections. There's no reason why any one else should set up that cockeyed association but if you do listen to a lot of weird music this isn’t really going to be your kind of thing anyway.
The album does have a subtly questioning track in "War Statement". There are snatches of semi-audible European radio (including our very own Radio 4 reporting the US shooting down of UK aircraft in Iraq) that hint at the unreliability and partiality of all war reporting. And for someone settled in Omaha this must count as pretty brave stuff. It doesn't rant. And the music is soothing stuff.
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In general it’s lush, expansive and heavy on the computer generated percussion and synths. It’s romantic, gentle and well played. The two years of home recording and production have been well-spent. It isn’t going to set any charts ablaze, but the ambience of "M2" leading into gentle soul contender "In This Room" will get some light jazz types fluttering. IF you’re going for easy listening, this at least has some heart and soul.
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