A brief but bumpy, raucous and overall scrumptious set by Xavier Charles (clarinet), Jean-Philippe Gross (electro-acoustic devices), Franz Hautzinger (quartertone trumpet) and Lionel Marchetti (Revox B77 & short-wave). The two horns almost guarantee something of a jazz feel though the quartet really plays nothing that could be called by that term. It's improv, bubbling and playful (all the musicians seem particularly fond of blurts and bleeps on this date), no solos, no heads, but there is that latent feeling...

The electronics are sharp and aggressive, quite active (no reductionism here!). Continuing the thought above, it's rather enjoyable listening to this as a descendent of Hancock's Headhunters band rather than anything in the AMM lineage. Indeed, there are portions that recall the Art Ensemble of Chicago in their freer moments, with a reincarnated Bowie at the fore in the person of Hautzinger. And that's before the ragtime recording pokes its head in for a look-see.

Not a deep probing then, more a fun, jostling session, four fellows enjoying themselves and providing the listener with some easily digested but reasonably nourishing ear candy. Enjoyable work.