Ivo Neame: Moksha

Edition Records ★★★★

Following collaborations with the likes of Phronesis and Marius Neset, pianist Ivo Neame’s first album under his own name in six years reveals him embracing a variety of electronic keyboards as well as his relentlessly exploratory piano. These, including a digital version of the Mellotron, bring a certain luminescence to the already contrasting timbres provided by tenor saxophonist George Crowley, with drummer James Maddren and double-bassist Tom Farmer laying down some tricksy time signatures. The resulting group sound is evident right from the opening Vegetarians, with quavery electronic voicings slithering about a gutsy beat and earthy tenor sax. Similarly, Laika bubbles and bounces in and out of troughs of echoing stillness with its Fender Rhodes ripples and Crowley’s increasingly vocal sax. In contrast, lush piano chords and meditative sax open Outsider, while the sombre entrance of Blimp gives way to much animated interplay.