Toe-tapping and constantly keeping you on the edge of your feet, “I Prefer” showcases the wildly imaginative and creative spark that S’yo Fang seek to bring to the forefront. The Taiwanese-Dutch pianist, composer and arranger who creates music in-between the context of modern classical and contemporary jazz brings to life such filled and magnetic compositions that combine spoken word with eclectic jazz ensembles in a way that’s artful and easy to engage with as well. From the outset of the pitter patter of “Abnormal Love” to its “Hold up” section in the poetry section, you find yourself falling further and further into the madness of it all. It has such an erratic yet keenly rhythmic movement that’s simultaneously confounding yet engrossing.
Perhaps a consequence of the free improvisation on offer through the record’s composition, there’s level of playfulness and freshness that never once wanes as you find yourself going through each track. The sheer level of difference and distinction not just within the album, but within each piece as its own entity is on its own an experience to love. The titular piece, which comes in second on the record as a whole, is a magnum opus of sorts. At longer than eleven minutes in length, it feels like an EP in and of itself, a narrative and journey that sticks throughout and has you transfixed with each movement of the arrangement. “I prefer being” becomes a sort of sonic blu tack that sticks in your head for long after.
Personal favourites on the record come at the end, particularly with the magical vocal performance on “In a Nanosecond”. It’s operatic but also so free flowing that the little bit of haywire ethos to it gives it another leg.
Overall, this is a record that’s keenly artful, imaginative, and pathbreaking. From a composer with ideas and dexterity that few can match, “I Prefer” is a standout piece in the catalogue.