" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Allen's satiny-smooth tone and precise technique belie an intrepid sensibility that is eager to rise to the surface. So unsuspecting listeners who cue up the title track of The Sky Above Her, Allen's third album as a leader, might at first be tricked into thinking they'll be listening to something easy on the ears, as the track possesses an ingratiating, comfortable feel; Allen's melodicism definitely contributes to that impression. But by the album's second cut, Allen's adventurous side emerges with a vengeance, and it's clear that this record has a lot to offer to those wanting something beyond a pleasant listen.

Allen has a couple things going for him. One is his compositional creativity. Yes, he can write strong melodies, as the title track or "West Wind," a lovely little bossa nova piece, demonstrate. But it's on the more complex, intricate cuts that Allen's fiendishly clever constructions show themselves. "Pulsion" joins odd-meter time signatures to a crafty melody that evolves enticingly over the course of its nine-plus minutes. Similarly, "Lacuna" has a devious head that at first defies parsing, but as the track develops one stops trying, simply taking up the quest to find out where it goes. The music's challenging aspects are undeniable, but there's an inviting quality to Allen's writing that renders it enjoyable even in its most labyrinthine moments.

It also helps that Allen has a top-notch band for this date, capable not only of keeping up with him but in adding levels of excitement and verve that take the music to another level. Two of Allen's partners, bassist