A meeting of minds and a natural collaboration, Les Triaboliques consist of three British musicians who play all manner of plucked instruments and who have long experiences in other cultures, but who also have a shared start in punk. With a lengthy history together, Lu Edmonds and Ben Mandelson are both veterans of 3 Mustaphas 3, whose work in the '80s and '90s anticipated the more recent mash-up of national musical styles. Mandelson got his start in Magazine, while Edmonds' first real gig was in the Damned. Since then they've both enjoyed winding paths that have taken in the Mekons, Shriekback, Tuvan throat singing, and world music production until they came together again as members of Billy Bragg's band. Justin Adams first emerged playing with Jah Wobble, and his résumé also includes Sinéad O'Connor and Robert Plant, producing Lo'Jo and Tinariwen, as well as his own work. While the trio has been described as "a ragged supergroup," that's not quite accurate. They're more the backroom boys emerging to play music they like, having fun and exploring ideas. On their debut CD, Rivermudtwilight, the mood is largely hushed, and based around the one thing they share in common -- the blues. ~ Chris Nickson