This 12” teams key players from UK/French improv scene. Similar in concept to the Le Drapeau Noir LP, but different in its execution. The LP is a recording of a live effort from last year, fusing talent from Lyons Fr. Motherfucking, I’m A Grizzly, Julien Dupont, Francois Virot, Le Geme Faute, and UK artists including members of Part Wild Horses Mane On Both Sides, Chora, Helhesten and Lanterns. A massive five hour jam took place and has been edited to two 15minute sides that quake with blazing hazards and contagious rhythms.

The A side opens with Gamelan percussion, as one might expect from Chora or Lanterns. Various instruments peer in and out of focus droning and clapping a storm cloud. There is a striving for rhythm that eventually finds its path after clamouring through rambles akin to Vanishing Voice or Sunburned at their most expansive. Strings drive scrapes, which are met with a steady percussion, which is soon met by arcing guitars. Simple chords pound an angular rock formation with forceful, body jolting motions. The sound is alive with a cacophony of singing drones and locust clamour. There is a slight element of cross-fade editing as the movement is disrupted and shifts to a more interesting part of the jam. The editing feels selective and removes some of the freedom of the sound. However, the sounds delivered are enthralling if a little disconnected. All quietens, hitting a psych note – a minimal dedication to the Doors, which in turn, rolls into the most sublime minimal mess recalling Divine Coils. The group feels extremely connected in a blissful state of unbridled unity. The untogetherness versus the unity of creation is breathtaking. This dissolves back to a pounding primitive rock ensemble, with hash stained fingers and bellowed beer breath. All tumbles to chaos, beauty and abandoned buildings.

Side B crawls into play with stretched lungs of the newly born dead. Zombie rapists finger corpses with squelches and squeaks as the sun dawns with clarity and evaporating properties. Things return to the living and taps and kick drum patterns uplift with various tonal undulations, evoking humour and a tumulus landscape. There is a definite feel of psychedelia, jamming with the intentions of Träd Gräs och Stenar, or the Golden Jooklo Age. This is the most psyched out I’ve heard many of these artists, finding points of rhythm then following them with determined marches. This is such a great side, striding along with madness and motion. Over half way things begin to decay into a dirty Boredoms style noise thudding. This in turn falls into rambling and droning as you’d expect from a large ensemble imrov unit.

Overall an interesting listen that has moments of devastating motion. It does, however, fall short of some of the outputs of the artist’s (as singular) and the hugely successful collaboration as Le Drapeau Noir. Great for an inebriated freakout or a late night journey to another place. I would have loved to have seen this performed live, as I think some of the magic has been lost in transmission. 7/10 -- Peter Taylor (19 November, 2009)