This is immersive and thought-provoking music: contemplative without being fragile or shy, informed by electronica but played on mostly acoustic instruments, minimal in construction while delivering a visceral punch, classic mind-stretching ECM music that isn't at all twee or precious.

Nik Bartsch and his crew build compelling atmospheres from deceptively simple patterns played on piano, Fender Rhodes, clarinet, bass and percussion; and one of the attractions of this music are the uncanny effects caused by the intricate interlocking rhythms, harmonies, and overtones. At times, these lapidary intricacies produce the sounds of ghost instruments (or even growling jungle beasts) in the mix. Fans of Steve Reich's masterpiece "Music for 18 Musicians" should give this a listen -- at times, Ronin's music creates similarly oceanic waves of tension and release. Listening to this recording late at night brought back some of the thrills of hearing my first genre-transcending ECM music in the 1970s, such as Eberhard Weber's magnificent "Yellow Fields" or Ralph Towner's Solstice albums.

Not everyone will love this music. It's not jazz, it doesn't exactly swing, and it may be too in-your-face for those who prefer more delicate realms of introspection. People who hate the minimalisms of Reich and Philip Glass may find Bartsch's compositions repetitive. But anyone who is interested in muscular new sounds that seem both timeless and very contemporary should check it out.