Hands down, my favorite release of BOTOS so far and such a mature and clear sounding approach to their brand of instrumental free-jazz meets post-whatever freak-out. "Statue from Space" is brimming with exotic percussion and wonderful pulses and riffs from guitar (both acoustic and electric), bass, horns and electronics.

"Using the Symbols of Far Off Mercury" is a sparse but thickening build-up to the more expansive track "Alerting the Vast Echos", which is filled with graceful cymbal swells and thick bass lines that slowly uncoil into another giant empty space of clattering acoustics and distant bleating brass. This is truly, as they put it "the second phase" of the BOTOS sound, leaving behind the guitar pedals and favoring a new sense of space and fullness, focusing on the unique percussion and other acoustic instruments.

The truly astounding thing about this record, and hopefully a continuing aspect of BOTOS' sound is the clarity and conviction of their playing. This is clearly improvisational music, but at such a telepathic and instinctual level that it is frightening how gripping each precise cymbal scrape and guitar chord is when it comes in.

I cannot overstate how important I think this record is to the evolution of improvisational music and its players/appreciators. It should and will be the benchmark by which all other releases should strive for in their search for free and mind-blowing music. I know that Michael and the Brothers probably don't want the burden of mega-star thrust upon them, but then they should have thought of that when they recorded such outstanding music. 10/10 -- Grant Capes (11 December, 2006)