Audiopile Review: London collective Ill Considered offer up their newest LP after a quiet few years, though, to be fair, most of the current lineup have been busy with other projects, including shop faves Unknown To Known and Wildflower. While Ill Considered are based in one of the major centres in the ongoing contemporary jazz renaissance, the outfit don’t get near as much interest or hype as some of their London counterparts. Certainly not held back by lack of recognition, their underdog status gives them room to explore the outer reaches of jazz, boldly fusing their improvised sets with post-punk rhythms, a hip-hop bounce and a searing psychedelia that’s as inventive as it is approachable. Whittled down to a trio on this outing (the group have expanded up to a sextet previously), core members Emre Ramazanoglu (drums), Liran Donin (bass) and Idris Rahman (saxophone) hold it down for this live-recorded improv session. Somewhat more straight ahead than the occasionally mutant psych-jazz territory that they have inhabited previously, the taut rhythm section tend towards full hypnotic lockdown here, leaving ample room for Idris Rahman to shine, running ceaseless solos that veer from snaky mysticism to fiery ascensions. Hard to say if Precipice will ultimately raise their profile, but Ill Considered hardly seemed concerned. And neither should you.

‘Precipice’ takes Ill Considered back to their improvisational roots. Idris Rahman, Emre Ramazanoglu & Liran Donin operate as one to create an album highlighting their superlative talents and rightful position at the helm of the UK’s Jazz scene. A rebirth following 2021’s acclaimed ‘Liminal Space’, this new album has a raw, stripped simplicity harking back to the seminal albums of 70’s Jazz. Ill Considered collaborate again with acclaimed visual artist Vincent De Boer to create the artwork for the album. Ill Considered formed in 2017 after Emre Ramazanoglu and Idris Rahman played together on some sessions and were motivated to try a new, fully improvised project with drums, bass, sax (and occasionally) percussion.

The first jam they recorded, was then mixed and mastered in the same 24 hours by Emre and became the the band’s first album. The band continued recording everything, pressing vinyl and distributing this via their own label. This DIY approach as led to nine albums recorded both in the studio and live over three years built them a strong following as well as the respect and admiration of many of the leading lights in the UK jazz scene and beyond. Now for the first time, these albums will all be made available to a wider audience on streaming platforms allowing the world to discover the unique sonic universe of Ill Considered for themselves!