TRUMMERFLORA COLLECTIVE brings together the considerable creative talents of MARCELO RADULOVICH; DAMON HOLZBORN; MARCOS FERNANDES; HANS FJELLESTAD; NATHAN HUBBARD; ROBERT MONTOYA and JASON ROBINSON - most of whom I know from solo works and less-populated projects - reviews of which can be found scattered throughout this site. The album starts like something by PAINKILLER before taking a similar path to that of LEFT HAND RIGHT HAND (another talent-filled collective) only at a slightly less madcap pace. From here it develops and explores area after area, kept bouyant by the rock-solid drums here, by the strange ambient shapelessness of synthetics there. From peaceful and charming to grating and abstract, the transformation is seamless. There's a lot of experimentation within the 138' 23" running time, plenty of space to spread out and explore, and they rarely waste the space allowed them. Away from the more traditional Jazz sound, they are not afraid to delve into darker, more abstract corners when they feel inclined, embracing abstract imagery at almost every turn. They describe strange landscapes on imaginary planets, building their own complex civilisations to fill the spaces between wastelands. The second disc moves even further away from the 'norm' with long, sprawling canvases of bizarre colours and textures. Where the percussion comes in, it is metallic, seemingly tribal music from the streets, where trashcan and hydrant make for great improvised skin'n'metal. It even manages to sound like hand-cranked mechanisms; arcane machines from times gone by. There's very little on this part which you'd describe as Jazz, instead it's a challenging Ambient Tribal sprawl which touches cacophony, but is mostly atmospheric. Album highlights - so many to choose from. I'm very fond of the bright, Sprite-like piano on "Nonet 1"; the wall of spider leg guitar on "Nonet 3"; the Industrial Horror Soundtrack from the beginning of "Frosty The Snowman" which later on sounds like TEST DEPT at their bashin' best; and the second part, "Silent Night", where the glove puppet SWEEP seems in a particularly remorseful mood. The bizarre scrap-heap of "Third Time" which gradually transmutes into understated rhythm. And the majority of the second disc! I have to say that, at least initially, I had been put off this album by the quality of the recording. Levels are fine and there is little in the way of hiss, yet as most of it was recorded in live situations, you find the acoustic-instrument-to-mic a little muted, lacking in clarity, almost seen through a miasma fog. As the music grows on you, you notice it less and less, but don't expect clinical studio precision. Also, not being a huge fan of Jazz, I didn't take to this album straight away, but soon grew to like it - should have known those TRUMMERFLORA / ACCRETIONS lads wouldn't leave things lying in the land of the normal for long. One other problem I did have, curiously enough, was the mute, voiceless approach , which normally you hardly notice, seemed like an enforced silence here - so much expression going on, yet no words to make the description easier. And where words do appear, they seem, by contradiction, to intrude on this very human audio-canvas. Originally reviewed for Metamorphic Journeyman.