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  Martin Escalante / Charlie Mumma / Tete Leguia 
  This Molten Salt
  (Wash and Wear Records) 


  
   review by Jeph Jerman
  2026-04-23
Martin Escalante / Charlie Mumma / Tete Leguia: This Molten Salt (Wash and Wear Records)

A joyful outpouring of elevated scree, brought to us via lips and fingers and elbows askew. The alto sax here is particularly "paint-peeling" as the kids say, and it's aided and abetted by pedal-assisted low end and scattershot drumming. The title track here was recorded at different times and places and thus has a slightly different feel from the other two live missives. Don't let that deter you from bathing in this trio's manic squall. Around the 11-minute mark, the bass starts seriously adjusting the position of various buildings while the alto squeal gets squeezed in the process. From his viewpoint in Michigan, Mumma dutifully continues to crash and bash, as the foundations actively give way.

"Impossible to Consider" includes a false start or three, which just adds to the hilarity. The drums and bass get a bit tangled here, but clarity is not all it's cracked up to be. In fact, this enhances the overall fug of the proceedings and lifts the affair to heights of barely controlled mayhem. A huge wave crashing endlessly against your tympanum. The sax sound gets compressed by the sheer weight of the "rhythm section" until it resembles squiggly electronics. What am I listening to?

"Entity Grabbin'" also features a bit of fumble at its beginning, but by now you should realize that it's all by design. This one feels a bit looser and sparser than the first two blasts, but only just so. It does pick up steam gradually, accumulating stray garbage cans and shipping crates as it goes. There's a guy-in-the-back-with-a-cassette-machine feel to this one, which only adds to the perceived danger.

Stick a toe in and test the waters. You might just decide to dive.







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