Br: Medicina

Fading in with Uuskyla solo, "Rocket Tango" lifts off when Brötzmann and Friis Nielsen ignite. The alto bellows with primal power, Uuskyla scattering beats like blowing leaves. Unfortunately, here and throughout Friis Nielsen occupies a poorly mixed sonic netherworld, and his contributions to the frenzy are muddy. His "One, Two, Three, Free" follows, with the bass seeming to wander through Uuskyla's minefield and Brotzmann essaying the explosions on tenor.

Brötzmann's near-multiphonic attack runs rampant over Uuskyla's multirhythmic "Artemisia." A brief bass and drum duet seems to slow the momentum, then Brötzmann returns to fill the sails once again. "Justicia" features death defying tenor twists and turns, rhythm section roiling. Back on alto, Brötzmann offers his own "Some Ghosts Step Out." With the scent of Ayler in his technique and performance, this seems a tribute. Friis Nielsen busily tears up the fret board as Uuskyla tells several stories at once.

A fluttering clarinet and crisp brushwork open the collection's lone ballad, "Here and Now." Friis Nielsen climbs around the bass as Brötzmann plays an introverted heartbreaking melody. With raspy squawking, Brötzmann brings his tarogato to the medium tempo "Bones and Beans." A soulful tenor intro sets the mood for "Hard Time Blues." With impassioned cries and downward bent tones, Brötzmann tells a long, sad tale. After a brief rhythm section interlude, Brotzmann slams the tempo in gear and drives off the disc.

Medicina supplies a strong dose of the Brötzmann phenomenon, with the powerful reed player showing no sign of relenting or mellowing.