Mark Cain - Threads [Parentheses Records 023 / Tone List 044]

Released as a collaborational affair between the Belgian label Parentheses Records and Tone List is "Threads", the latest album outing conceived by Australian composer, performer, musician and sonic experimentalist Mark Cain. Put out on the circuit on May 1st, 2k26 the album caters a total of 15 solo improvisations for soprano saxophone rolled out over the course of roughly 37 minutes, exploring the sonic and tonal abilities of the instrument at the fringes of its range with pieces like the fluttering, nervous, ever spiralling and somewhat spiritually primordial "Threads 1" paving the way for things to come like the enchanted and giddy "Threads 2" or the sustained, longing and in parts almost droning "Threads 4" whereas pieces like "Threads 6" are on a rather playful and tentative tip whilst "Tongues" uses and abuses the soprano sax in a rather surprising and percussice manner, weighing in a bit of cliche Asia feel for fans of old kung-fu flicks, and "Threads 10" brings forth another great take on longing Jazz melancholia working its way up to an ecstatic climax just to provide a rough outline of what to expect from this rather fascinating album. This is Jazz Improv beyond Jazz. Go check.