I think that I share Bob & Hugo's confusion.  When I first saw your photographs, Robbo, I assumed that you were seeking to emulate something that Achmal / Taz / Mick had shared early on in this life of the documentation of this base, but when I looked back at the original recipe, I saw nothing resembling your reduction.  Could you please clarify from where you got the idea that the base had to be reduced to this consistency ?
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** Phil.

I'll repeat the picture shows him making the curry, possibly first reduction of the base and other ingredients. No idea what his actual base looks like as it's not shown.

I've got lazy lately, and haven't made a base in a while. So I tried using a cheapo jar of Lidl Korma sauce, watered down, as a base gravy. As it's lightly spiced I thought it was the best one to try, and have had reasonable results making different curries with it. Not to everybodies taste I know, but worth a go if desperate.

Both made exactly to spec

Now how did you know he was a fellow American, Rob-1 ?  Not his use of "mom" by any chance ?!

Mom is widely used around Brum/West Midlands, so not sure what you mean.
So much so, we always moan about not getting greetings cards with it on anymore. All seem to say Mum these days.

The electric one is cool Romain.  2800W plugged into a standard domestic 230V outlet would be a good way to form a bulk buying relationship with your local fuse merchant, or at least to upgrade your home heating to a cozy