2011’s textural sound structure orgy that was Re:ECM didn’t float my boat particularly but Ambiq is better. Re:ECM's Max Loderbauer magics some modular analogue synth moods out of thin air quite miraculously here with clarinettist Claudio Puntin the latter also brandishing mini-mallets and coating the 11 ambient techno tracks here in a slick but human almost tribal open-ended electronic wash. And completing the line-up it’s drummer Samuel Rohrer (better known for his work with Swiss pianist Colin Vallon) who also uses the very effective Korg Kaoss Pad MIDI effects. An album characterised by futuristic electro-acoustic experimental music roughly in the Nils Petter Molvær post-Khmer idiom but without the tender Milesian intensity the Norwegian habitually brings to the table. Ambiq is worth your time and sits well with experiments in the UK by the likes of Dan Nicholls on the album Ruins moving far into unexplored territory that the zen minimalism of bands such as Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin have yet to land upon.

Released on 31 March