Ignite is the Stockholm-based, free-improv duo of Australian vocalist Casey Moir and double bass player Johan Moir, partners also in real life and the directors of the HearHere label. The Moirs have been working closely in recent years, mainly in Johan Noir outfits – his Ensemble and the Svelia quintet that focused on Nordic version of modern jazz, but also perform Mother Jack duo that performs story-like melodies (the sophomore album of the duo «Shout Until Our Lungs Are Blue» was released on HearHere, 2015).

Casey Moir leads her own band but her own projects – including solo performances, the duo The Vivid Black with sax player Mia Dyberg and the trio Joining Forces with vocalists Linda Oláh and Isabel Sörling, explore different aspects of free – wild and deep – improvisation. She keeps exploring strategies of extending her vocals properties with the use of effects, pedals and percussion items.

Ignite describe their debut recording, «Ignition», a 23-minutes improvisation captured live at Klangkeller, Berlin on November 2016, as an actual ignition of sparkling sounds. «All things are intricately woven together, captivating space and enticing with intrigue». Out of dark, deep-toned drone-introduction a brighter soundscape emerges where the buzzing bow of the double bass of Johan Moir finds common ground with the weird vocalizations of Casey Moir. But then Ignite explore another mysterious, vibrant texture with subtle use of pedals and effects that shifts into an intense embrace of operatic vocals and a nervous bass but conclude in a peaceful, conversational mode, all without losing the tension and the sense of playfulness and invention.

Eyal Hareuveni

Casey Moir (v, efects); Johan Moir (b, obj)