astrakan Comets and Monsters (CD, £12.95)

Second album by London based band that features new additions Celia Lu on keys/vocals and Jeff Spencer on bass. Anyone with an ear for original and exploratory music that challenges genre boundaries will like this. The music remains a combination of structured and improvised forms with subtly charged, expressive solos while Celia Lu’s unique vocal presence lends a fresh new ambience and connective angle. The previous album prompted the following remarks: ‘a distinct Canterbury sound but completely run amok. The shredding wah-wah guitar left me breathless.’ Under the Radar CDs ‘absolute ecstasy, beautifully sparkling melodic magic with surprises around every corner’ Customer Review – Wayside Music