Pianist Kit Downes, above centre in the band picture, pops up in all sorts of playing situations, touring for instance recently with Seb Rochford, and here he is once again in Belgian bassist Félix Zurstrassen's group Nova making a difference as ever whether rhapsodic on the title track or more maverick and oblique on 'Piece for Ape'. The sound here has a number of complementary sources, whether the sax directions of Dutchman Ben Van Gelder or the more pastoral guitar sounds of Franco-Brazilian Nelson Veras. Tunes are often quite brief and you feel that they could be elaborated upon a bit more but certainly the band has appeal from both an intellectual and emotional point of view. 'Swirl' is probably the best track although you could indulge yourself and go for the moody more old-time sax lead on 'Adal's Dance' happily enough. Drummer Antoine Pierre is a usefully busy presence on 'The Tribe of Dream' and certainly Zurstrassen's sense of beat and propulsion should appeal to you if you like players like Jasper Høiby. Worth seeking out. I would love to hear this band in a small jazz club somewhere soon. Progressive modernistic ''acoustic'' sounds from a band with plenty of ideas and the means to deliver them - what's not to like? SG

Out today