THE AVANT GARDEN - LIVING IN THE HERE & THERE (TRG 009) MC 52mResulting from a days intensive session in Eve's overcrowded technological spare room resulted in this fascinating tape of music bordering on both avant-garde electronics and jazz-folk crossover. The two lengthy, seemingly totally improvised, sections were chosen well, although some of the original session recordings contained some excellent pieces omitted here, there were also some uncomfortable lapses into soft jazz that didn't fit. Here however, the concoction never sits comfortably anywhere, moving from abstract synths, via fragmented guitar, percussion, etc., onto more ethnic realms, growing, often changing in unexpected directions. It's curious that the most musical and accessible material is saved for the second side, particularly the folky introduction, with ethnic references, which grows into a Riley style piano piece before dying slowly in a pool of synthetics and wordless chanting, which in turns grows with the addition of tabla, zither, etc. I wouldn't say that The Avant Garden's first outing is a total success, as undoubtedly there's much room for improvement and a development of ideas, with less incoherent rambling and better communication between the musicians. Yet, for a first try it is certainly very good, and a unique fusion of musics that is liable to challenge and delight many.from my "Beyond The Rain Garden" feature in Audion 23 (Nov.1992)