Three experienced Israeli musicians without backgrounds in improv recently came together to form the band FARTHEST SOUTH, an all improv ensemble, with a base in rock and electronic forms. Sounds like it could be a disaster waiting to happen. But of course I don’t think it is, as I’m writing about it! The trio of Barry Berko on electric guitar, Yair Yona on bass, and effects, and Yair Etzion on electronics know what they are doing and thus this recording really ends up working. Their soundscapes create an incessant churn, industrial sounding at times, more riff based at others for the saxophone great Albert Beger to really spread out over. It appears as if Beger is not a full on member of the band, but I can’t really imagine these arrangements working without him, or someone of his obvious skill taking part. The joy in this recording is hearing Beger’s vigorous propulsive reed work scrape up against the textural and rhythmic tapestries the band provides. “Concrete – Part I – Godshall” is a slow grower, stretched out over 15 minutes. Squawks, squeals, and various sounds are coaxed from the saxophone while a droning buzz emerges and spreads throughout the sound space. Beger has all the room to stretch out that he could want, and he does so completely, moving from shape to shape in a very free sense almost as if he is dragging us through the drone misted landscape toward…something/nothing. OMENS & TALISMANS is the name of the record and it is self released and out now.