Monolithic, the Norwegian free-jazz/metal duo of Stian Westerhus (Jaga Jazzist, Puma) and Kenneth Kapstad (Motorpsycho, ex-Dadafon/Animal Alpha), have finally released their long-awaited debut album "Black science" via Roggbif Records. Apparently said record was recorded back in 2006, but it's taken 3 years to bring it to light.
Norwegian artist Martin Hagfors (HGH, Home Groan) will release his debut solo album "Men and flies" in January. Said record was produced by Lars Horntveth (The National Bank, Jaga Jazzist) and will be celebrated with a release concert at Rockefeller in Oslo on February 5 featuring contributions from KORK, Eirik Øien, Askil Holm, Kenneth Kapstad and others. More info and samples: http://www.martinhagfors.com/
Smalltown Supersound will be giving Lars Horntveth's (Jaga Jazzist) solo album "Kaleidoscopic" an international release on January 26. For those unaware, the record is a single 37-minute orchestral work featuring the 41-member Latvian National Orchestra.
The new Lars Horntveth (Jaga Jazzist) solo album "Kaleidoscopic " will be released on August 11, but you can also hear it two days earlier on August 9 when he will perform the entire 37-minute work at Øyafestivalen with backing by Kringkastingsorkesteret (KORK).
One of the perks of running this site that I enjoy most is developing relationships with artists I admire. It's not just interacting via email interviews, but moreso the conversations that go on off the record. Stuff like talking Broder Daniel with Gustaf Kjellvander or even shooting the shit with the dudes from The Swedish Model, discussing the future of physical products. Of course, it's always about the music in the end and so when I get a chance to peep in on the creative process, that's always the best. I'm not much a collector of b-sides and alternate mixes for the most part, but sometimes that really is the best way to get inside an artist's head to see how they work. Moonbabies are a great example -- their songs go through so many variations before arriving at the finished product and it's amazing to hear how many different ways a single piece of music can be expressed. Another great example is Jacob Holm-Lupo and his current project The Opium Cartel. Like Moonbabies' Ola Frick, I get the impression that Jacob labors endlessly in the studio, adding endless layers of instrumentation until he can finally realize the symphony in his head. Ah, the double-edged sword of modern technology! So naturally, when presented the opportunity to share a work-in-progress from him, I gotta jump on it.
If you remember the previous Opium Cartel track I posted last September, this one mines similar territory, though is a bit quieter/folksier. I still hear a bit of the same dark, atmospheric vibe that's in all of Jacob's work dating back to White Willow, however the guest vocals from Rachel Haden (currently on tour with Todd Rundgren, believe it or not) push it closer to Kate Bush avant-pop territory. It starts off twinkly, but slowly progresses into, well, progressive territory. This mix isn't even close to refined so I'm sure the finished version will be even bigger (Jabob: "None of the TOC tracks have actually been mixed yet, and this one suffers a bit from that, as it has like a million tracks"), but it's pretty damn good as-is, so listen up and let your mind fill in the blanks for its as-yet untapped potential. The song and the main melody are in place and that is what's most important.
Errata: the lineup for this recording is Jacob and Rachel plus frequent collaborator Mattias Olsson (Pineforest Crunch, Molesome, etc.) and flautist Ketil Einarsen (Jaga Jazzist). Expect a late 2008/early 2009 release.
The Opium Cartel - Flicker girl (ft. Rachel Haden)
Reunited Norwegian cult act White Lord Jesus will be releasing the new album "...into that good night" on August 18, 24 years after their debut. The first single "Strange days" includes guest vocals from Rebekka Karijord and can be downloaded here: http://www.whitelordjesus.com/
Other guests on said record include Arve Henriksen (Supersilent), Martin Horntveth (Jaga Jazzist, The National Bank), Bård Torstensen (Clawfinger) and Maja Ratkje (Spunk, Fe-mail).
After working separately on numerous sideprojects, Norwegian act Jaga Jazzist is back together in the same place rehearsing new material.
MIC Norway talks to Lars Horntveth (Jaga Jazzist) whose new solo album "Kaleidoscope" will be out in August to coincide with his appearance at Øyafestivalen: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2008051515504776567177
Jaga Jazzist trumpet player Mathias Eick has a new album out on revered German jazz label ECM called "The door", his very first as a band leader. Read more: http://www.jagajazzist.com/news.php
Vegard Waske, manager for Norwegian acts such as 120 Days, Lindstrøm and Jaga Jazzist, discusses the way file sharing impacts indie artists and gets a few other label people to comment on the same: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=101420032&blogID=330095958
Ane Brun's first two albums failed to impress me - they're okay, but underwhelming considering the accolades afforded them. I'm not what it is, but they fail to resonate with me. However, the "Duets" album drastically changed my opinion and I found myself appreciating Ane in a whole new light. The more subdued production and the balance of other voices were just what I needed to hear I guess. So when Ane released a new live album recently, I was kind of excited to hear it. I'm not too big on live records unless they really change things up from the studio recording and since "Live in Scandinavia" is all-acoustic plus string quartet, it qualifies. Remember me saying the other day how The (International) Noise Conspiracy's "Live in Oslo" is my favorite record of theirs? The inclusion of the Jaga Jazzist horns on a few tracks is a big part of that. So yeah, Ane Brun live with strings - does it work? The answer is yes, very well indeed.
Buy "Live in Scandinavia": [click here]
Ane Brun - Balloon ranger (live)
Jaga Jazzist bandleader/trumpeter is the recipient of this year's IJFO International Jazz Award for New Talent. Presented by the International Jazz Festivals Organization in partnership with IAJE, the award is intended to provide a catalyst for the recipient's career and includes a fully funded international tour.
Check out Republic, a new Norwegian band featuring Erlend Mokkelbost (JR Ewing, Killl) and Anders Tjore (The Turns, The Pop): http://www.myspace.com/republicproject
The band is rounded out by Even Ormestad (Jaga Jazzist, Marit Larsen) on bass and Andreas Bye (Bugge Wesseltoft's New Conceptions Of Jazz) and drums. The sound? White-boy funk. I'm not so sure about it.
NRK is reporting that Norwegian all-star group The Nation Bank (feat. Thomas Dybdahl and members of Jaga Jazzist) are working on a new record: http://www.nrk.no/musikk/1.1016101