Inizia bene il 2025 anche Cuneiform Records, con la pubblicazione in doppio cd di una sessione di studio inedita di John Surman risalente all'aprile 1969, registrata in Germania ad Amburgo alla guida di un ensemble di dieci elementi: Flashpoints and Undercurrents, con Alan Skidmore, Ronnie Scott, Mike Osborne, Malcolm Griffiths, Erich Kleinschuster, Kenny Wheeler, Fritz Pauer, Harry Miller e Alan Jackson.
At the time of the recording released here, Surman had just finished recording his second album as a leader, How Many Clouds Can You See (Deram, 1970). Flashpoints and Undercurrents is thus a unique chance to get an expanded view of both Surman's formative work as a leader, and also at the early work of his musical compatriots appearing with him here. For this occasion, Surman led a ten-piece ensemble featuring the cream of modern British jazz players as well as two Austrian musicians. What's doubly valuable about this release is that it contains a large amount of pieces never recorded elsewhere, captured in excellent stereo sound.