This is the second disc that I have been treated to from Friends and Relatives Records and it totally blows the first one out of the water (see the DBH review). The recording is amazing, and the amount of focus and patience shown by the musicians involved is very impressive. Most of the five tracks on this disc clock in at around the 15 minute mark which is normally a bit of a deal breaker for me since very few people at the moment seem to have to ability to make an engaging track of this length. I know this is a pretty broad generalization, but the idea that length is equal to quality is a bad one, only quality is equal to quality and track length (or the lack thereof) should be ignored.

Beginning with some percussive explorations at an almost inaudible level and then slowly introducing other instrumental elements (which due to the superb use of extended technique) I have had difficulty distinguishing, the first track builds at a very satisfying snail?s crawl pace and continues on for nearly 17 minutes never quite climaxing, but leaving you waiting in eager anticipation even as the second track begins. Slowly the burble and hum of water and electricity take shape into yet another incredibly engaging improvisation that takes you every place you didn?t know you wanted to go. The sonic palette sticks closely to the acoustic end of the spectrum although some of these sounds must be of electronic origin; they are delicately introduced so as not to destroy the balance and illusion of sculpting the air.

I could go on and on and describe each track for you in lurid detail, but all you really need to know is that the whole album is this good, which is really really good. Get this and watch this label (if you haven?t been already), they are a beacon of hope is a sea of mediocre CDR releases. Improvisation done this well never gets old. 9/10 -- Kevin Richards (10 September, 2008)