(Babel)

Outhouse belong in the same leftfield area of contemporary UK jazz as bands like Acoustic Ladyland, Polar Bear or Led Bib, but have their own distinctive slant on the jazz improvisation-meets-grungy rock-meets-noise aesthetic prevalent in that sector. The line-up for their third release features two saxophonists, Robin Fincker and Tom Challenger, bassist Johnny Brierley, and the energising drumming of Dave Smith. The similarly boundary-crossing contributions from their guest, Icelandic guitarist Hilmar Jensson, add a steely edge to the music, which oscillates between squally improv, tight ensemble interplay and brooding, almost cinematic textural explorations.