Mike Shannon's MEMORY TREE, on Richie Hawtin's much-vaunted Plus 8 label, and as the off-kilter rhythms of "Beyond Incubation" kick in, a jazz-like melody hangs out in the background. But "Mercury Mile" is more straightforward, with a driving propulsion. Some hints of funk slink their way onto "Wolf Module" but the beats are steady and strong, and the warmth of "Enero" comes on like a little slab of joy. The lovely chords of "The Love Fry" seem to hint at some Detroit flavors as well, while "Uno Para El Sol" brings in the mystery. The bouncy darkness of "Dr. X" returns a bit of the edge for the icy "Regalos De Pandora" to smooth down. Finally, "Closed Question" comes in to solidify the groove once again, simultaneously solidifying Shannon's reputation as an ace craftsman.

A silent epic record, that's gone down in history as such: POWERFUL