The wonderfully idiosyncratic soprano sax playing of Lol Coxhill, whose biography includes work with Brotherhood Of Breath, Derek Bailey, AMM, Kevin Ayers, Bobby Wellins, Evan ParkerX,X AND Tony Coe. His playing is an interesting cascade of twisting and turning ideas supported by unusual techniques, moving tangentially to his clear concentration and quixotic brain. Coxhill's tone is clear and open, almost buzzy, unique in a world of modern strong-toned pure players; at times it seems self-effacing, thread-bare like the clothes of a rag-tag troubadour. This is its charm: his playing doesn't try to impress with technique while bowling you over with wit, charm and, yes, incredible technique. It's an odd balancing act, but his ideas flow from a seemingly endless fountain, and though you can't be certain what will come next, you can be assured that it will be unlikely and interesting.

The four tracks on this cd are related to events surrounding Coxhill's major retrospective Spectral Soprano, a much delayed double cd on the Emanem label. The pieces are all digital live recordings, the first from Chicago in 2002, and the rest from three separate London concerts in 2001 and 2002.

Looking at the recordings chronologically, the second piece on the CD was the first recorded, from the purported release concert for Spectral Soprano. At the last minute it was determined that the cd would in fact not be released, hence the concert became titled an "unlaunch concert." The recording of this track is the only group improvisation, the final piece from the concert, with the incredible cast of Ian Smith, Paul Rutherford, Neil Metcalfe, Alex Ward, Lol Coxhill, Veryan Weston, Olly Blanchflower, Steve Noble, Lu Edmonds, Michael Kosmides, Knut Aufermann, Steve Beresford and Pat Thomas, many of whom are members of the London Improvisers Orchestra. The instrumentation includes both traditional instruments and electronics, including a there min. The improvisation begins with a laugh as Coxhill refuses to start, and quickly develops into a fascinatingly playful and moody piece that shows the breadth of ability and the natural language that these improvisers have developed.

The third and fourth pieces on the CD are the next recorded, from a concert at London's Sound 323 record shop, to mark the actual release of Spectral Soprano. The two pieces, titled "Relaunch One" and "Relauch Two," are 24 and 13 minutes in length, holding interest with their constantly flowing and inventive ideas. The last piece recorded, "Music for Feathery Fronds" was recorded at the Empty Bottle Festival in Chicago. Indescribably interesting, it is a joyous 28-minute improvisation that is never overbearing, never repetitious, unique and varied and an interesting listen into the mind of a musician who clearly never stops thinking and developing.