Rambling dark jazz to soak up in the winter months, Ground Patrol take you on a mindful and introspective journey with Converge.
Release date: February 6, 2026 | Art as Catharsis | Bandcamp | Website | Facebook
Pan-continental jazz-rock was not on my bingo card for my first review of 2026, yet I’m really glad I not only grabbed it from our list, but that I also stuck with it, and finally got around to soaking it in fully. Ground Patrol are a duo, split between New York and Sydney, seeing the experimental, genre-defying Aussie influence collide with Brooklyn jazz’s rich and eclectic history, to produce a mathy, jazz-rock sound that is introspective, engaging, and exceptionally well crafted. And what better label to release such a record on than our friends at Art As Catharsis, renowned for promoting really innovating jazz acts like Zeitgeber, Coast, and Arcing Wires.
Converge took a while to land with me, however. I kept making a big mistake and going for full-album plays, on dog walks where I had little time, and my mind was rushed. The first track “Lift”, and its intense introduction do not soothe a busy mind, and I frequently drifted off to pastures ‘greener’ and easier listening. Yet once I got down in the weeds with this album and gave it and myself and Converge time to breathe, it really unlocks so many stunning layers, soundscapes, and movements. Tracks are built with a lot more structure after the first, yet the constant vibe changes make every track stand out and not seem formulaic in any sense.
As my pal David already covered “Lift” properly last week when we premiered the single for Ground Patrol, let’s dive into the rest of Converge. The core two-piece of the band is joined by three guests, who deliver exceptional clarinet, saxophone, and synths throughout the record, which really help drive the introspective emotions I mentioned earlier. Yet, the songwriting prowess of the duo sees that songs are constantly evolving and whilst your mind might think ‘this is a bit sad’, suddenly the mood has shifted a second later.
“Call” begins with sombre guitar chords and soft, yet intense drumming that, once joined by the clarinet, you would almost be filled with forlorn dread, if this were a soundtrack or movie. But at the almost exact point the clarinet joins the foray, the drums and guitar are building a counter-narrative, pushing energy into the track that grows into something else completely. By the finale, the energy has hit a brilliant peak, with clarinet, drums, and guitar looping motifs from earlier in the song at a faster pace, to completely contrast against the start of the track.
Likewise, in “Rise”, the loops and experimentation with chords and motifs help to first of all set a rich and mysterious atmosphere, before the pace and energy escalate almost out of nowhere. Much is to be said about this initial ambient movement, though. You are drawn to the incredible production in the opening softer section, with gorgeous textures rolling off of the synths and saxophone, underpinned by soft, yet resonant drums. Yet midway, when all four instruments really open up, you will be wanting to put this on your biggest speakers, with the biggest bass possible, for the wave of sound that hits is really special.
The percussion from Alon Ilsar is mesmerising throughout the album, in particular on “Shift”, however. Whilst the previous three tracks focused heavily on looped motifs to open the track, this freestyle percussion section that goes for three minutes brilliantly sets up the guitars and saxophone to take centre stage in a chaotic and psychedelic finale. From here, after five intense tracks, we’re finally met with one final ambient song, “Dwell”, where warbling textures and twinkles let you drift away.
Ground Patrol picked, I think, the perfect length for this record. Most tracks have standout motifs, which, even after one month of listening, feel like I’ve known them for years. You want to dive back in to hear that bass swell in “Rise”, you want to hear the clarinets in “Call” fight against the energy of the percussion and drums. You remember which tracks are the vibe you want and dive right in. It’s homely, fun, and as mentioned, introspective at times, giving you a real brain teaser to cook dinner to, or throw on whilst you are grinding some games. Converge is well worth your time.
