Contagious, a Berlin-based trio consisting of Sabine Ercklenz (trumpet/Processing), Andrea Neumann (Inside Piano/mixer), and Mieko Suzuki (electronics/turntable), has released their first new album in a long time since their 2019 self-titled debut. Born out of interactions and sessions during the “Partners in Crime” event series—an independent series organized by the trio at Berlin’s Morphine Raum—this album features the first series’ guests: Valentina Magaletti, Sofia Jernberg, and Andrea Belfi. The album features a chemical reaction between Sofia’s avant-garde vocal expressions, Valentina’s relentless drum patterns, and Andrea’s Moondog-esque percussion, all woven into an improvised ensemble that electronically modulates the vibrations of piano strings and the timbre of a trumpet, while incorporating turntables. Furthermore, with samples from Eleh’s tracks subtly woven in, track titles named after creatures that defy binary gender norms—such as jellyfish, striped sharks, sea bees, and marble crayfish—and mastering by Rashad Becker, this album delivers a sonic punch with no detail overlooked! (Original Japanese text by Adachi)