46,000 Fibres are a UK-based improvisational group, formed in 1993 out of a group called Koven-oe, which included Robin Rimbaud (aka Scanner). When he left, the remaining trio of Richard Clarke, Tonal Davidson (aka Tonal D) and Leon Maurice-Jones decided to switch from structured material to explore electro-acoustic free improvisation. The idea was not to arrange or talk about the music but to rely on the musical telepathy between them and, without resorting to cliches, create ‘something unique’. The results ranged from ethereal delicacy to hard industrial, space rock, gamelan stylings, radical jazz, dark funk and their forte of sonic soundscapes. The line-up for the group was often fluid, though with a core of Tonal D & Leon Maurice-Jones. Musicians who they’ve collaborated with over the many past years include Nik Turner, Lol Coxhill, Scanner and Ashley Wales.

In 1999 they put out three live albums as part of their fifth anniversary together. Later that year, they released ‘Reconstructed’, an album where band members and guests were invited to sample moments from their improvisations to make something a bit more coherent and more for the contemporary dance/club scene. Placing this album in their catalogue, it’s certainly their most commercial outing and could be viewed as their nod to the 90s chillout scene. In any case, it doesn’t take much to imagine how chilled an album put together by a bunch of misfit experimental jazz improvisers might be…