Simmering with tension, urgency, and a refusal to be contained

Auktyon

Girls Sing (Geometriya)

ESSENTIAL "Profukal"

What gorgeous chaos, at once discordant and melodic. Auktyon, a Russian avant-rock band that likes its vamps and improvisations, has partnered with a group of talented jazzers who include guitarist Marc Ribot, keyboard player John Medeski, saxophonist Ned Rothenberg, and trumpeter Frank London. With 12 musicians doing battle, there's a lot to contend with here: lovely Eastern European melodies, vocals alternately sweet and ferocious, electric riffs, and punctuation marks from tuba, clarinet, and percussion. Ribot and Medeski make their presence felt immediately on the skronk-filled "Profukal," which sounds like Medeski Martin & Wood arguing with one of John Zorn's outfits. Auktyon's ethnic origins prevail on tunes such as the lilting "Zhdat" and the stomping, ominous "Rogan Born," which grows more and more violent behind Ribot's guitar, Medeski's piano, and some seriously angry vocals - and then segues to the ambient wash of white noise that begins "Tam-dam." "Girls Sing" isn't going to crack the Billboard album chart, but the adventurous listener might want to hunt it down. It simmers with tension, urgency, and its own refusal to be contained. [Steve Greenlee]

Auktyon performs at the Middle East Downstairs tonight.