The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation

When radio was first developed, minds of the time considered the notion of "the ether" – a mystical realm of static purgatory through which electromagnetic fields traveled. This notion was quickly disproved, but if one could send Egor back in time, it might have given that theory greater weight. The fourth album in five years from the live, improvisational side-project of the Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble defines ethereal. Structurally similar to their 2011 album, Anthropomorphic, each of the four lengthy, slow burning pieces on Egor begins in near-silence. They build momentum and character on a bed of Jason Köhnen's effects and found-sound manipulations, flourish with cello, trombone, operatic vocals, guitar and drums, swell to natural crescendos, densely atmospheric under a blanket of lengthy, fluid reverbs and delays, and then resolve with astounding grace. This seven-piece collective can perform composed music, as their interpretations of Moondog and Danger Mouse/Sparklehorse attest, but they obviously have no problem winging structured improvisations over drones. There is no shortage of ideas in this bunch, hence the quality and consistency of their output.