Does the title refer to an actual tour of different cities and venues, or a walk around a stack of buckwheats? No matter. What we have here is a lovely set from Cologne in October of 2011. Urs Leimgruber is a fairly well-known performer, having made records since the early '80's with folks like Fritz Hauser, Joelle Leandre and Keith Rowe, and Roger Turner's name and sounds have graced many slabs of vinyl going as far back as 1979. His quick-witted and imaginative drumming has long been a favorite of mine. The music here runs the gamut from small sound interplay to '60's-'70's style British quick-quick to combined timbral investigations, with some stop-and-start invention to show that they can do it. The recording is top-notch; listen on headphones and Turner's drums hang in the air for long seconds. His array of sounds never ceases to amaze me.

The opening "The Pancake" might seem a bit tentative at first, but I believe space is another ingredient in the arsenal, and the startle response can be used to great effect. The big changes in sound here serve to catch our ears and remind us to pay attention. When the piece does launch into an extended drumming and melody workout, the tension builds and then releases as Leimgruber flies alone briefly. The overtones he spits out, and Turner's eventual response, are fascinating.

"Art Jungle" begins with high-pitched reed squealing and cymbal scraping, the frequencies colliding together, combining and repelling in quick succession. The piece is over in a flash. At other spots on the disc I am reminded of old Evan Parker/John Stevens recordings, though Turner's array of sounds seems quite a bit wider, and Urs rarely slides into circular-breathing. I would venture to say his stock in trade is the upper register, where he tends to spend a lot of time. On the whole, a very good example of quick wits and arresting sounds.