Rising New York vibraphonist Chris Dingman is clearly something of a mystic: he drew inspiration for this ambitious five- part suite from his observation of the natural world (tectonic plates, swarms of fireflies, the deserts of Nevada), though that isn't necessarily relevant to the listener. Wherever he finds his sound, what is striking is its utter originality. Yes, there are echoes of the contemporary Brooklyn scene, aided by the presence of some of its leading practitioners, including saxophonist Loren Stillman and bassist Linda Oh. But there is something more here, something otherworldly, mysterious, almost numinous about Dingman's approach that make his second release as leader one of the freshest and most unusual sounds to reach these ears this year. chrisdingman. com