Since moving to New York in 1995, German-born drummer Jochen Rueckert has picked up credits with the likes of Kurt Rosenwinkel and Marc Copland as well as saxophonist Mark Turner, the lead voice on his fifth recording as a leader. That relationship goes back over 20 years, and he has known guitarist and bassist Mike Moreno and Orlando le Fleming almost as long. Not surprisingly, the band sound relaxed in each other's company, even though they are delivering the dense harmonies and tricky themes of an all-original repertoire. Rueckert plays drums with precision, bite and a strong pulse, and with Turner's slightly wispy tenor sax blending smoothly with Moreno's clean and cultured guitar, the group's sound is warm and empathetic. The band are at their best delivering twisty themes over interesting changes and a seamless 4/4. The opening ‘Stretch Mark’ is the album's killer track, while ‘Purring Excellence’ is not far behind. Here, Turner and Moreno dig in and spin one beautifully crafted phrase after another. The theme of ‘Parasitosis’ twists and turns over a neat bass riff before the solos gather steam and the album closes with the title track, an altered samba. And there's a doctored bossa nova titled ‘5-hydroxytryptamine’ – it's a hormone and neurotransmitter that can inhibit gastric secretion and stimulate smooth muscles among other things (steady on – Ed); no signs of anything like that here, though. The only downsides are the two slightly ponderous ballads, ‘The Alarmists’ and ‘Aussenposition’, where the harmonies are a little too dense and the lines a little too obtuse. Easily skipped on CD though, and more than compensated for by a strong aesthetic and an in-form Turner at ease and playing at pace.