Akusmi - Terra Incognita [Tonal Union 020]

Released via the Berlin- / London-based Tonal Union label on July 3rd, 2k26 is "Terra Incognita", the third ever release of the Pascal Bideau-led ensemble operating under the Akusmi moniker ever since 2022. With a total of seven pieces unfolding over the course of roughly 48 minutes the group takes the albums title as a conceptual guidance for sonic exploration out of which emerges a deeply enchanted tonal realm infused by Deep Jazz and unscathed rural naturalistic landscapes from the very first seconds of the chiming and ever floating opener that is "A Waking Dream" which develops into a densely layered and rather spiritual vision followed by the percussive tribal rhythmicity and innate loopings of the subsequent Jazz outing that is "Anima" which probably draws structural inspiration from Minimal Music developed by the likes of Steve Reich whereas "Club Subterranea" weighs in rather deep, comforting and tender late night Jazz tendencies backed by interesting synth bleeps of most likely modular origin providing a foundation for a myriad of interwoven and intertwined harmonic lines, winding, floating and meandering in an almost surreal and surely slightly psychedelic manner. With "Pleine Lune" Akusmi harks back to Minimal Music-infused percussive rhythms, yet floats and akmost drowns these with a triple thick coating of overwhelming lush and rich harmonies working their way up until the piece ends rather abruptly, giving way to the quiet bird song intro of "Drongo's Flute" which later incorporates elements of Future Tribal and deep Spiritual Jazz as well as dissolving non-vocalisms drowning deep within the overall mix before "Rain Dance" brings forth a hypnotic, syncopated and almost trance-inducing groove of almost krautsy and surely time dissolving quality before "Dawning Dusk" rounds things off with a lively rhythmic attitude evoking a slightly South East Asian feel as a foundation for sustained, elegic and sometimes even deeply romantic sax lines and emotionally touching chants for a closing. One for a fanbase of Contemporary Jazz afficionadoes, this.

Album artwork on Instagram!