Despite the German album title, the members of ECFA - which stands for "Emanation Creation Formation Action" (yikes) - are as American as the nut immortalized in the name of their Texas-based record label. The instrumentation - saxophones (Carl Smith), viola (James Alexander) and drums (Jason Friedrich) - and the trio's intricate quasi-serial compositions inscribe Die Faden solidly in the lineage of post-Third Stream / AACM chamber jazz composition; fans of Messrs Lake, Threadgill, Braxton and Leo Smith will find something to appreciate here. The fact that Friedrich's drums are set a little back in the (distinctly homemade) mix imparts an unfortunate flatness to the overall effect, but shouldn't detract from the music's identity. One wouldn't normally expect music that bears the scars of its compositional labor so openly to sound so appealing, particularly the instantly attractive lope (rather than swing) of "Waters Variations", and I hope the group will continue the good work in 2005. Adding some extra instrumental color - a couple more horns, strings, maybe even a piano - might not go amiss either. --Dan Warburton, www.paristransatlantic.com, February 2005