Ches Smith plays vibes and drums with a collection of intuitive partners in Craig Taborn/p, Mat Maneri/vi and Bill Frisell/g. Smith explains in the notes that Frisell joins in as a guest for his current “road” band, and the guitarist fits in quite well, adding his patented effects and strums to the ruminating trio, building up to an almost King Crimson climax on “Mixed Metaphor” and going from bluesy to chaotic with the frenetic violaist on the crashing “Clear Major”. Tabor is contemplative and abstract on the gentle “Depart” and is delicate on the ambient “Trapped”. Moods more than music is created most of the time, with Smith guiding like lane protectors in a bowling alley.