Record Reviews

EIVIND AARSET ~ I. E. JAZZLAND 602547307248 (Barcode: 602547307248) ~ NORWAY ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the seventh album by Norwegian guitarist / composer Eivind AarsetFind albums by this artist, which comes three years after its predecessor released on the ECMFind albums on this label label, and sees Aarset returning to the Norwegian JazzlandFind albums on this label Recordings label, which released all his other albums so far. The album has a very long list of participants including a horn section, but the core of the musicians involved includes drummers / multi-instrumentalists Erland DahlenFind albums by this artist and Wetle HolteFind albums by this artist, bassist Audun ErlienFind albums by this artist and co-producer Jan BangFind albums by this artist. Italian vocalist Lorenzo Esposito FornasariFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album consists of nine original compositions (one being a three-part suite); six by Aarset and three co-composed by Aarset with (in turn) Holte, Fornasari or Bang. Although Aarset is often described as a Jazz musician, with Nu Jazz being a much better labeling attempt, his music in general and certainly this album have absolutely nothing to do with the "conventional" concept of the Jazz idiom. Although there is an element of improvisation and intrinsic freedom embedded in his music, it moves in spheres different from Jazz, much closer to contemporary Classical Music, electronic and ambient music and even experimental Pop. Even if one has a very liberal and broad-spectrum approach to defining contemporary Jazz, as I hope I have, connecting this music to Jazz is both dishonest and completely inappropriate. Having said that, just in order to keep things in the right perspective, this music is absolutely stunning in its raw beauty, aesthetic power and overwhelming emotional resonance. Aarset is anything but a conventional guitarist and in fact the term guitarist hardly even applies to his music-making. Although guitars are involved, they are only a source of sounds, which later are transposed, over-layered, multiplied and radically transfixed, all this using contemporary electronic sound devices, into a new universe of sonic reality. The only link to music, as we know it, is the use of percussive instruments, which create a wall of sound effect behind the layers of electronically manipulated guitar sounds. It is difficult to speak about the conventional sense of melody and harmony in this music. Again, except for a rhythmic beat, everything else is fluid and shifting; bits of melodies come and go, replaced by electronic sound vistas, and suddenly moving into a new rhythmic pattern with another fractured melodic theme. And yet all this seemingly chaotic behavior not only makes perfect sense, but also touches the listener playing on the emotional strings of his deep soul as well as creating an abstract and complex intellectual experience of wonderful weirdness. Cold on the outside, as most Scandinavian music, with its lethargic minimalism and sluggish forward motion, this music is red-hot on the inside if only one dares to explore. One word of warning: do not listen to this music while driving as it may take over the listener so completely that his presence in charge of a speeding car might just shift into a parallel reality. This album is a treasure chest of superb musical moments, which is simply too good to be ignored. Make yourself a favor and get a copy ASAP, since my meager attempt to describe this music is simply infinitesimally less potent than the real deal. Hats off!

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ERLAND DAHLEN ~ RACOONS IS IT JAZZ? 268 (Barcode: 7073317000653) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the fifth solo album by the Norwegian drummer / composer Erland DahlenFind albums by this artist, probably the busiest drummer in the country, with hundreds of albums to his credit. On this album he plays dozens of different instruments, not only drums or other percussion instruments, but also keyboards, synthesizers, guitars, etc. The album presents seven tracks, two of which are parts of the same composition. All the music was composed by Dahlen. The music is an amalgam of many cross-genre elements, sounding mostly like Ambient / Electronic music infused with powerful drumming, but careful listening will of course expose also Jazz, Rock, Fusion and Progressive Rock influences. The result is quite unique and interesting, and music lovers from seemingly distant idioms might find interest in this unusual project. Of course drums / percussion enthusiasts should find this music especially fascinating and can spend hours trying to identify specific instruments being used at each given section. The drone-like background is often just a canvas on which Dahlen displays his percussive elements. Overall, this is a highly unusual piece of music, which features the might of power drumming and the infinite percussive possibilities available in a hands if a Master of the trade. For enthusiasts of drumming and percussive pulsations, this album is heaven on earth!

Updated: 04/02/2024Posted: 04/02/2024

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NILS PETTER MOLVAER ~ SWITCH OKEH 888837477420 (Barcode: 888837477420) ~ NORWAY ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 Norwegian award winning trumpeter / composer Nils Petter MolvaerFind albums by this artist continues his stream of releases with this album recorded with fellow Norwegian musicians: drummer Erland DahlenFind albums by this artist, guitarist Geir SundstolFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Morten QvenildFind albums by this artist and sound engineer / programmer Jan Marius AareskjoldFind albums by this artist. The album includes ten original compositions, all (assumingly) by Molvaer. Following his association with the ECMFind albums on this label label, first with the excellent band MasqualeroFind albums by this artist and then as a solo artist recording two albums, he left ECM in pursue of a wider exposure and commercial success. The music is an amalgam of Jazz trumpet and electronics, Rock and ambient influences. The muted trumpet sound, derived from the late period Miles DavisFind albums by this artist sound, the melancholic and atmospheric melodic themes, typical of Scandinavian music and the ambient electronic soundscapes create an overall slick mixture, which is easily accessible by a wide range of audiences, aged between fifteen and eighty five, predominantly female. This album is quite similar to several Molvaer´s preceding albums and it is difficult to see any real progress or direction where this music is going. Although in the early days of his musical career Molvaer seemed to have a great potential and was seen as an upcoming force in European Jazz, his later career pushed him towards the role of a trumpet playing Kenny GFind albums by this artist, with a slightly more ambitious attitude. Of course there is nothing wrong with this kind of music per se, and with enjoying it. Personally I find it "much ado about nothing", but what do I know? I really tried to like it this time, but alas it is simply boring.

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