In the last twenty years Blast developed from complex avant-garde rock in the vein of Henry Cow and Captain Beefheart to a freer style, with room for improvisation and abstract electro-acoustic parts. The group has a new lineup that includes three young musicians who are active in the free jazz scene. The members of the band have played with prominent improvisers who include Evan Parker, Elliott Sharp and Fred Frith. The music on Sift, the group’s seventh CD which recently came out on the British label Recommended Records, prompted The Wire to write: ‘Its skilful alteration of composed polyrhythmic intricacy and spiky freakout is impressive without being flashy’.

Dirk Bruinsma alt-/sopraansax/composities, John Dikeman bariton-/tenorsax, Andrea Taeggi keyboard/elektronica, Frank Crijns gitaar/composities, Onno Govaert drums/percussie