When a group of prolific and experienced improvisers like this one is formed, you know it’ll be excellent music. What you don’t know is if it’ll really be a band or just a session, a musical season that passes with little fanfare and even less touring. Well I’m happy to report that BASICs widely toured self titled album and third release in three years solidifies the group as a real band with plenty of chemistry left to explore.

BASIC consists of guitar wizard Chris Forsyth of  the “not technically a jam band or krautrock band” Solar Motel Band, Doug McCombs of post rock legends Tortoise (and more) on the bass(ish), and Mikel Patrick Avery on an innovative and minimalist electro-acoustic kit that has to be seen to be believed.

The music is technical, repetitive and highly improvised. In fact this new record was cut in just two days and largely composed in the studio. That’s not totally uncommon but what these guys produced is neither a freak-out noodle fest like AMT nor a heavily mixed collage of improvisation ala SML or Makaya McCraven. With telepathic interplay and thoughtful and restrained playing they jammed out a record with minimal overdubs that sounds like a precision milled composition.

Avery’s percussion- consisting of a single drum and menagerie of small noisemakers filtered through his own live electronics rig- blurs the line between drum machine and man. It recalls blog-favorite Ikue Mori but it’s honestly unlike anything I’ve ever heard. It’s the perfect bridge to tie together McCombs bass/baritone playing that refuses to be merely rhythm, harmony or lead with Forsyths rich and emotive electric guitar.

What I love about BASIC is that they nail that NYC, Steve Reich kinda minimalist intellectual sound without feeling clinical. Rather they somehow fit a great deal of emotion (and dare I say funkiness) into a thoughtful and technical package. That’s never been more the case than on this self-titled record. There’s also some great double bass from collaborator John Moran and some lovely new samples and electronics from Avery that really round out the sound. I found the more ambient and airy tracks in particular (like the closing Union Pool Melody) to be an excellent step up from previous releases that contributes to the thoughtful-but-unhurried vibe of the record. Anyone who enjoys any kind of rock innovation from post to prog should love this record and make a point to catch a show.