Mammal Hands: Circadia

On their sixth full-length release, Mammal Hands moves from Manchester's Gondwana Records to the German jazz powerhouse ACT. The former indie label proved an excellent fit for their contemplative piano-saxophone-drums format, which draws from jazz, modern classical, and post-rock in a manner both sensitive and cohesive. ACT's association with the Esbjörn Svensson Trio (e.s.t.) makes the partnership feel logical, given Mammal Hands' own boundary-blurring trajectory.

Since forming in 2012, the Norwich-based trio has distinguished itself among artists translating ambient, electronic, and post- minimalist sensibilities into a jazz framework. Like GoGo Penguin—whose former drummer, Rob Turner, replaces percussionist Jesse Barrett here—and Portico Quartet, the trio emphasizes repetitive grooves, meditative atmosphere, and a post-rock sense of rise and fall. Compared to many jazz ensembles, the trio favors sincerity and cinematic sweep over irony or chromatic density.

Listeners steeped in bebop or post-bop may find the approach restrained, yet its clarity and directness carry undeniable uplift. Tracks tend to expand gradually, often shifting direction or blossoming midway through. A loose formula underpins many of the pieces: they begin with simple melodic phrases that grow in complexity and intensity."Alia's Abandon" is just such an example, starting with a clipped piano phrase that would not sound out of place in contemporary classical repertoire. As drums and saxophone enter, the texture thickens, and the pulse heightens; midway through, a piano riff cuts in with typewriter precision, briefly redirecting the piece before it settles back into its central theme.

The album introduces welcome textural contrast, from the saxophone skronk on "Submerge" to the wild breakdown of "Window to Your World," recalling the groove-driven early work of Ill Considered. "Helios" aligns with Mammal Hands' earlier releases, its buoyant piano lines balanced by softly echoing saxophone. "Forgotten Friend" rides a drum-and-bass pulse, while its saxophone lines lend an organic, breathing quality.

Like Gift from the Trees (Gondwana Records, 2023) the album maintains a strong sense of cohesion. Missteps are few—palette-cleanser "Fallow Tide" stretches its motif a little too far over its short length—but the surrounding material more than compensates, creating a forceful, compelling release that confirms the trio's command of their distinct aesthetic. At times gentle and folk-inflected, at others surging toward moving climaxes, the album marks a confident new chapter with ACT.