?Cloudburst? is another round of Traum shaped jabs to the head, the duo punching the weight of a quartet rather than a duo. A collaboration between free-hardcore bumbler/stoner Zac Davis (Lambsbread) and percussionist Ben Hall (Graveyards and M?l?e), this cassette kicks relentless improv energy into a great rolling flow. There are noticeable roots for part of Traum?s sound in some of Derek Bailey?s guitar playing, with the guitar scale-scudding its way through start-stop turns and post-jazz?s unthinking explorations. If Davis had cranked his strings any tighter he?d be liable to lose his fingers before the next session is booked. Where other Traum releases have Davis sometimes leaving gangling unfinished thoughts, this packs a little more direct heat. Playing lines usually left stunted and incomplete, Davis sounds like he?s swooping over melodies and pushing ideas to ridiculously good conclusions ? ready to return to those parts after if his muse runs out of energy?though it never seems to. The thunder of Ben Hall?s percussion, a heavy dry bony sound punctuated with bell notes, takes many more tight turns than the guitar ? enschewing obtuse melody for distance and miles covered. ?Cloudburst? is a cassette full of colour, the clash and flash of the interplay of notes and percussion, with plenty of angular sparkle going on between the Davis and Hall. 8/10 -- Scott McKeating (22 April, 2008)