This highly impressive and exquisitely integrated 18-part composition for piano, prepared piano, electric contrabass, virtual instruments, radio and analogue modular synthesiser alternates fiendishly complex high-energy musical passages with longer, tranquil, drifting episodes. The sound palette is broad and unusual - and carefully crafted. Stevan works with layers, timbral drift and fiendish rhythmic unisono; isn't afraid of melodic material and, when necessary, is happy to draw on sixties-era contemporary music (Nancarrow, Ligeti) or the wilder reaches of rock.

For the most part, though, this composition offers a unfamiliar sonic landscape rich with fleeting references that are integrated seamlessly into a clear but deep musical architecture. Like Trout Mask Replica or Song Cycle - it may take a little getting used to but it rewards repeated listening. Stevan Kovacs Tickmayer was born in Vojvodina, ex-Yugoslavia, in 1963. Following the outbreak of the civil war in his native country, in 1991, he has lived and worked as a free-lance composer in France. He studied composition with Louis Andriessen in Holland, and worked with György and Marta Kurtàg between 1996/1997.

His ensemble Formatio, a mixture of classically trained musicians, jazz and improvising rock performers, was formed in 1986. Since 1994 he has worked for choreographer Josef Nadj, several projects with Chris Cutler and with a variety of classical musicians and ensembles: Gidon Kremer, Kremerata Baltica, Keller Quartet, Netherlands Blazers Ensemble, De Volharding; as well as improvisers Fred Frith, Iva Bittova, Peter Kowald, Gyorgy Szabados, Paul Termos, Dresch Mihaly, Grencso Istvan and others.