Emeralds - What Happened (No Fun Productions) Since 2006, Emeralds have released dozens of albums, most of them on cassette or CD-r, but now, signed to the admirable No Fun Productions, early reports suggest they’ve upped their game, somewhat. That’s easy to believe. What Happened is an album of instrumental prowess, mostly performed on keyboards and synthesizers, and mainly improvised. Occasionally noisy and not adverse to layering drones upon other dronier drones, this is an album which will appeal to only a small minority of listeners. Although they’re certainly the lucky ones, as What Happened slow releases its many pleasures, one comes to the conclusion that this is highly complex, intense and sometimes, quite brilliant collection. www.nofunproductions.com Rob F. Next