Prezens

The spontaneity of ensemble improvisation and the precision of post-recording digital manipulation meld on *Prezens*. Guitarist David Torn, alto saxophonist Tim Berne, keyboardist Craig Taborn, and drummer Tom Rainey laid down several hours worth of improvised material for the album; later, Torn tweaked and edited the recordings to create eleven tracks. *Prezens* fascinates on a moment-to-moment basis; even if their structure is not always clear, the pieces never really ramble. Along with being a jazzman and a David Sylvian collaborator, Torn is known for his film soundtrack work, and there’s a strong sense of drama as one atmosphere morphs into another, leaving the listener to supply mental images for the evocative music. One constant throughout is change: a tranquil passage will suddenly be agitated by an eruption of high-energy drumming (Rainey stands out), screaming guitar, or a siren of saxophone cries. Or the bass-less band will evaporate in a mist of electronic drones and drizzle. *Prezens* can recall updated prog or fusion or any of a number of electronica genres, but often the album’s sound is delightfully hard to pin down.