Muskox "5 Pieces"

5 Pieces is the first full-length release from Toronto's progressive acoustic jazz ensemble Muskox, who continue to develop the sound established on their previous three EPs. 5 Pieces finds Muskox further exploring Mike Smith's densely crafted pieces, with subtly shifting meters and deftly realized minimalist textures that seem curiously at odds with the woody acoustic sound of the group's unique instrumentation. Droning harmoniums give way to delicately mathematical banjo-driven chamber music and minimalist calypso reductions, all the while led by compelling themes that provide each piece with its own inner logic.