Slightly paradoxically given there are quite a lot of people on this record the best bits are the solo guitar passages for instance the delicate, pristine touches that hint at flamenco on 'Östanvik'. But while overall patchy the saving grace for the instrumentalism of the big band is its progressive nature - it's not a boring swing machine at all and has plenty of ideas. In other words it isn't at all square. Guitarist Johan Lindstrom isn't dull and neither are his charts borne out of a residency but it's an album easy to admire rather than embrace fully. Chamber jazz elegy 'Pasacaglia' is the best thing and the justifiably internationally renowned Swedish big band the Norrbotten plays it very skilfully conducted by very fine saxist Joakim Milder, who if you recall when he had his horn in his hands on that occasion enhanced the Marcin Wasilewski trio so well on 2014's Spark of Life. Best of the big band tunes is the syncopated smash and grab of 'Arctic Mambo.' Johan Lindstr​ö​m, photo: Bandcamp publicity shot