Kip Hanrahan’s “Desire Develops an Edge” is a masterful collection of jazz, rock, beat poetry and sensuality. This is an extraordinarily unusual performance with a late night, cool vibe. I’m actually a bit amazed by this album. It is so good it has made me reconsider one of my long-standing biases against the bongo. Bongos are usually the most infuriating instrument to me. The fact they are used perfectly in the album makes me wish more artists understood their use the way Kip Hanrahan clearly does.
A great deal of influences can be felt on here: of poetry, of prose, of jazz, bossa nova, and rock. The fact all these different elements can co-exist together is no mean feat. Often they exist within the same song. Each one has its own peculiar rhythm, and yes, Kip is a trained percussionist, so the rhythm is perhaps the best part of the album. It is simply as perfect as it gets.
“All Us Working Class Boys (For Jack Bruce)” has a glamorous piano behind it. Though it is used sparingly, it works both as a form of percussion and as a part of the melody. Silence in this song is employed as a form of tension. Even towards the end when the saxophones come in it feels like just the right moment.
Other songs have even slower, funkier grooves. “Trust Me Yet?” should never be played before sunset. It is one of those songs made for late-night grooves. “Nancy (The Silence Focuses on you…)” has a quiet, bossa-nova quality and shows off Kip’s singing ability. Full-fledged bossa-nova can be found on here in the song “Nocturnal Heart” which sounds timeless.
This is a great album. Shame more people haven’t heard it. Find it if you can. “Desire Develops an Edge” grows better upon multiple listens.
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