Lifeline’s Electrified Alchemy: A Bold Leap into Improvised Terrain

In their latest release under the name Lifeline, the trio of Pat Thomas, Dominic Lash, and Tony Orrell break free from the acoustic roots of their well-established project Bleyschool and plunge into a dynamic, electronic frontier. This spontaneous performance captures the raw energy and evolving language of improvisation, where complex textures bounce around the stereo field with both finesse and volatility.

Gone are the familiar contours of the piano trio. In their place: a bristling palette of keyboards, electroacoustic percussion, and electric guitar—an entirely reimagined soundscape that channels the spirit of free jazz through the unpredictable lenses of noise, dance, and rock.

From the very first moments of Lifeline 1, the group makes their intentions clear. This is not background music or ambient drift; this is full-contact sound art. Pat Thomas, a master of keyboard manipulation, pushes electronic tones into swirling, glitching constellations. Dominic Lash, usually heard on double bass, wields an electric guitar with a sharp, sculptural instinct—layering harmonic abrasion, delay trails, and feedback swells into each unfolding moment. Meanwhile, Tony Orrell’s approach to electric drums and cymbals fuses rhythm and texture, often dismantling the concept of a steady beat in favor of something far more expressive.

"What makes a band a band?" the liner notes ask—a question that reverberates throughout this recording. If musical identity were defined solely by personnel, Lifeline would be interchangeable with Bleyschool. But this record proves the opposite: while the players remain the same, the sound world—and perhaps the underlying philosophy—has shifted dramatically. The name change is no gimmick; it’s a signal of intent.

As Lifeline, Thomas, Lash, and Orrell engage in sonic risk-taking that feels both immediate and expansive. There’s no fallback on familiar motifs, no predictable arc. Each track—Lifeline 1 through Lifeline 6—unfolds as a unique ecosystem of sound, with the trio leaning into surprise, tension, and the unknown. Despite the instrumental change-up, their years of collaboration shine through. This is music born from trust and telepathy, even as it explodes with chaos and dissonance.

Track Listing (Disc 1, Side 1):

1. Lifeline 1

2. Lifeline 2

3. Lifeline 3

4. Lifeline 4

5. Lifeline 5

6. Lifeline 6

Each track is a snapshot of improvisational chemistry—moments where circuit-bent textures, skittering beats, and fractured melodies coalesce into something entirely their own.

Lifeline is a bold, electrified document from three seasoned improvisers who refuse to sit still. In shedding the acoustic skin of Bleyschool and stepping into the charged atmosphere of electronic improvisation, Pat Thomas, Dominic Lash, and Tony Orrell have not only expanded their sonic vocabulary—they've reminded us that true collaboration isn't bound by instrumentation. It's bound by intention, curiosity, and the willingness to leap into the unknown.

This is not music that asks for passive listening. It demands engagement, and rewards it in full.