Phronesis's eighth album finds thematic focus in the interconnectedness of its title, and nature's divine, unnecessary beauty. Jasper Høiby's nine-minute opener ‘One For Us’ encapsulates their continuing strengths. The melancholy undertow of his simply phrased melody gains escape velocity from Anton Eger's atomic energy core and the skitter and thrust of Ivo Neame's right hand, till they drive the tune home as if casting a spell. Sharp-edged, multiple movements and textural subtleties complicate the picture. The overriding feeling is, though, of a bittersweet life. The wry absurdity and romance of Neame's Douglas Adams tribute ‘Matrix For D.A.’ and drumming dynamo Eger's introspectively pretty ‘The Edge’ show the strength of Phronesis's three writers. In other moments of mysterious, misty unity, individual instruments seem to merge. The understated hush of ‘Breathless’ suggests a still woodland clearing, before ‘The Tree Did Not Die’ breaks ranks with a proggy soar into the supernal. Both draw inspiration from a band visit to Redwood forests. Whatever the changing scene, though, Phronesis's mission becomes clearer by the album. The unshakable sadness of a personal European blues is held in balance by energetic surges and melodic optimism. Beneath their sometimes cool sophistication, these are songs of experience.