Irreversible Entanglements Unveils 'Future Present Past'

The free jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements has released its fifth studio album, titled 'Future Present Past'. The recording sessions took place at the legendary Van Gelder studio in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., a site famous for hosting jazz milestones like John Coltrane’s 'A Love Supreme'.

This release marks the group's second full-length album on Impulse! Records, a label renowned for its deep catalog featuring icons such as Max Roach and Art Blakey.

The Visionary Force of Camae Ayewa (Moor Mother)

Central to the collective is Camae Ayewa, known professionally as Moor Mother. Describing her role is complex, as she is a poet, musician, activist, sound designer, organizer, curator, visual artist, and Afrofuturist visionary.

Ayewa, who has released over half a dozen solo albums and collaborated widely, has maintained a prolific creative pace alongside her academic career. Since 2021, she has served as a professor at the USC Thornton School of Music.

Moor Mother’s extensive discography defies easy categorization, spanning punk rock, hip-hop, experimental music, and jazz. Ayewa embraces this diversity, stating, “I'm really in love with all these genres.” She emphasizes that this exploration is genuine, not a tactic for audience segmentation.

The Collective's Unconventional Formation and Ethos

Irreversible Entanglements was established in 2015 following an impromptu performance at a Musicians Against Police Brutality event in New York. This event was organized after the police killing of 28-year-old Akai Gurley.

The initial trio—Ayewa, bassist Luke Stewart, and saxophonist Keir Neuringer—was soon expanded by trumpeter Aquiles Navarro and drummer Tcheser Holmes. While their sound echoes Sun Ra and Ornette Coleman, it integrates modern electronic music, punk rock, and hip-hop elements.

A True Collective Without Leaders

Ayewa functions as the lyricist and frontperson, but she insists the group operates without a hierarchy. She explained, “We have no leaders, and that's not popular now, as far as how the industry wants to market products.” This unified structure, she notes, makes marketing the group more challenging.

The music often features Ayewa’s voice acting as both an instrument and a guiding narrative force. The collective deliberately avoids making 'safe' free jazz, embracing abrasive arrangements and structures that challenge traditional jazz expectations.

Bridging Past Legacy and Future Action

The album title, 'Future Present Past,' reflects its thematic scope. While rooted in historical recording locations, the music actively looks forward. The collective seamlessly weaves electronic textures, like synthesizers, into their primarily organic instrumentation.

Ayewa’s lyrics frequently urge forward momentum and organization. On the track “Don’t Lose Your Head,” she asserts, “Foundation for the generation / It’s time to organize and plan.” She focuses on action rather than dwelling on past or present failures.

Refusing Compromise for Accessibility

Ayewa acknowledges that a less confrontational approach might secure more festival slots and opportunities within the jazz elite. However, compromising their uncompromising punk rock attitude and message is antithetical to the group's spirit.

“I refuse to be typecast within this music that we're just a bunch of rebels going to mess up the legacy of this music,” Ayewa stated. She counters this perception by adding, “We're drenched in the legacy of this music. We're optimists.”

Ayewa shared that audience feedback often centers on hope, noting, “When we perform shows, people say, ‘You give me hope. Thank you. I needed that.’”

High Frequency and Global Reach

Ayewa cites “Vibrate Higher ft. MOTHERBOARD” as her favorite track on the new record. It opens with atmospheric synthesizers, drums, and bass before Ayewa calls for listeners to rise above conflict: “We so up up up up and away, I can’t hear you.”

Beyond music, Ayewa is an educator and organizer, co-founding the Black Quantum Futurism collective with Rasheedah Phillips. Her relocation to Los Angeles in 2021 to teach composition at USC is part of her commitment to global impact.

“This work is a world work,” she affirmed, intending to share her expertise wherever she travels. Ayewa is currently developing a California-focused Moor Mother album, which will include a track featuring a previously unreleased beat from the late Leimert Park producer Ras G.