Drawn Straws – The Strato Ensemble www.thestratoensemble.com

I don’t normally think of myself as an ambient free jazz lover but this CD is sizzling with life and originality and is easily one of the most impressive CDs I've heard this year.

If you're a muso then you'll probably remember taking part in amazing jam sessions that felt sooo good until you listen back to the recording - the hear'n'now can sadly be so deceptive! But this CD sounds like that jam session that went just right - not just in places, but throughout. Like the pieces actually have good form that flows and develops and devoid of dead or sub-standard sections. I take a very humble hat off to these guys!

With maybe a passing reference to Weather Report this CD flows with a liquid intimacy if compared to the English reserve of say National Health or Hatfield and the North - though clearly running with Van der Graaf Generator wierdnesses and cooler latter-day Bowie ambience. It’s not just that it dares to journey close to the edge and back; much of it is truly beautiful – like heaven might sound?