is musically a brave step forward for Sylvian, but imo not as good musically as 'Blemish', I just find Manafon just a tad to sparse. But when it comes to the voice/lyrics then Manafon is a joy.

My mate has just picked up a cd by a Thomas Feiner, who is on David Sylvian's label, and he loves it. I've not heard it, but might be worth checking out.

As far as other stuff goes, Derek Bailey is the master isn't he? I was under the impression that Sylvian would be releasing Bailey's last recorded music, but as far as i'm aware, this has not materialised as yet. Have you heard the last few cds by Talk Talk, not as out there as Bailey, but v good

Never heard Bailey, but did see Parker once. He played solo, 30 minutes of soprano sax without taking the horn out of his mouth. It felt like 3 hours.

It's not nearly as abstract as the players involved might suggest, it's positively laid back in fact. Certainly nowhere near as painful a listen as Scott Walker's moves into similar territory.

There's a brilliant CD of Derek Bailey playing with or remixed by various wonky electronic types... 'Plays' I think it's called.

And talking of improv-meets-electronica, I heartily recommend both Icarus and the Chicago Underground Duo / Trio / Collective (delete according to preference), both quite delicate, not 'skronky' as I believe the terminology goes for the more aggy improv styles.

And I went to this marvellous gig on Sunday - http://www.theartsdesk.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=567:dubs...

I shall certiainly be investigating the London Improvisers Orchestra further (BJ Cole was the only of the live musicians I'd ever come across before at this show).

My experience of purely improv groups is pretty limited, but the trombone-led Alan Tomlinson Trio is the best I've seen.

by checking out the output of John Zorn: adventurous, extremely varied, generally improvised, and juxtaposing genres being very much his thing.

Also the Art Ensemble of Chicago did a fantastic run of albums from 1969 to well into the 80s. Heavy on jazz tradition and Africana and basically inprovised.

Good luck Grant.

Fascinated by the stuff being mentioned on here, since you could take 'improvised music' to include, well, most jazz. But like the other posters, I get the impression, Grant, that you're not really looking for someone to recommend any bebop etc ... we're talking more in the 'avant-garde' line.

I can recommend a CD of improvisations between Evan Parker and the superb pianist Stan Tracey, called 'Suspensions and Anticipations'. Tracey is a jazz legend and cites Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk as big influences - so this much freer stuff sees him gamely venturing outside his comfort zone.

Although arguably a bit 'mainstream' for this thread, I would recommend Keith Jarrett's solo CDs on ECM. Unlike the jazz standard recordings he issues with his trio, in his solo gigs he arrives at the piano with nothing prepared, and just plays. The result is usually a spellbinding hybrid of jazz and classical styles. The most recent release 'Testament' (a triple CD containing two concerts) is a great start - it's not overpriced for the length, the concerts are recent and have real, audible emotional weight (his wife left him around the time they were recorded and he says he could tell, for better or worse, how powerful the gigs were as a result).

Also on ECM, John Surman has recorded a series of CDs where he improvises solo saxophone over electronic backing tracks. Try 'Private City' perhaps, it's mid-price.

Hope this helps. Is the Wire Primer book worth a punt, by the way?