For LA-based multi-instrumentalist Jherek Bischoff, a collaborative spirit has practically become his calling card: he effortlessly blends his many melodic talents into projects with a strikingly diverse array of artists, from Xiu Xiu to Amanda Palmer, David Byrne to Wilco’s Nels Cline. His solo debut, Composed, similarly mixed his many pop, rock, and classical impulses to striking effect, but was largely recorded instrument by instrument by Bischoff himself. When he last visited the Soundcheck studio, Bischoff brought the New York-based classical ensemble Contemporaneous, which was re-enlisted for the recording of Bischoff's latest effort, Cistern—an ambient, instrumental affair. The whole group returns to the studio to play selections.