MIC Norway talks to keyboardist Ståle Storløkken about Supersilent and their new album "9", as well as a few questions about his other band Elephant9: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2009102311501020284733
Rune Grammofon will be releasing the new Supersilent album "9" (their ninth release, obviously) on October 5. This is the Norwegian freejazz group's first album without drummer Jarle Vespestad and this release all three remaining members playing Hammond organ, recorded live (as always) at Henie Onstad Art Center just outside Oslo.
Pitchfork reviews the new Arve Henriksen (Supersilent, etc.) ECM solo album "Cartography": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13379-cartography/
Renown Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen (Supersilent, etc.) will be doing a few rare US gigs this month with sideman/producer Jan Bang:
06/16 - Le Poisson Rouge, NYC
06/17 - Swedish Embassy (Nordic Jazz Week), Washington DC
06/19 - Rochester Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY
06/20 - Bijou Theater, Knoxville, TN
Also note that many of the same performers who will be play Nordic Jazz Week are also playing showcases at the Rochester Jazz Fest.
According to Supersilent's fansite, the Norwegian avant/freejazz group is now a trio as drummer Jarle Vespestad has left the band. A new album featuring the pared-down lineup has already been recorded.
Norwegian folk/jazz/avant label NORCD has announced their release schedule for 2009: http://www.norcd.no/
The biggest name that I recognize from the list would have to be trumpeter Arve Henriksen (Supersilent) who will be collaborating with poet Elling Vanberg on an as-yet-untitled album.
Fria KonstellationenAs interest in freejazz slowly trickles down into the world of indie/electronica and grows, I imagine we'll see more and more records like this, full of eclectic clatter and hum. Of course, most of them won't be very good at all, but at least we'll still have acts such as Fria Konstellationen setting the bar. Pure improv is a tenuous beast; even renown acts such as Norway's Supersilent edit down hours and hours of recordings for what ends up on their album. I can only assume the same for this Malmö-centralized collective, but who knows for sure? The mystery of its origins are part of the charm, whether it be the story behind the music or simply the makeup of the instrumentation. The group's main mode of communication tends toward drone rather than bursts of sound, though rules are made and broken and then remade again as they go along. Melody and themes are tossed asunder in favor of pure compelling sound; dynamics and variety of timbre hold my interest well enough. Live, I imagine the experience to be even stronger when a visual component is factored in. Not everyday listening, to be sure, but certainly a worthy document examining the possibilities of seemingly random noise.
- Avi Roig
MIC Norway is updated with London Jazz Festival coverage, including profiles on Arve Henriksen (Supersilent, etc.), Arild Andersen and Frøy Aagre: http://www.mic.no/english
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).
SupersilentSupersilent, on "8", introduces a spaciousness that wasn't there before. The improvisations on here are mostly drum and synthesizer-based and use dead air as much as possible and as little a traditional structure as possible. While it might resemble like a cacophonous pile of randomness, there is a research in there, a lot of research in fact. Nothing is out of place and everything moves toward a common particularly loud moment. The progressions are slow moving, but relentless. On the whole the record is quite enjoyable, and if it wasn't for the digital qualities of some of the synth sounds, I would have enjoyed this a lot more than I do. Definitely a record to consider for fans of Tuxedo Moon, Port Royal and other experimental outfits like them.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Dagbladet's top 20 Norwegian albums of 2007:
01. Shining - Grindstone
02. Jonas Fjeld - Amerikabesøk
03. Superfamily - Warszava
04. Prins Thomas - Cosmo Galactic Prims
05. The Lionheart Bros. - Dizzy Kiss
06. BigBang - Too Much Yang
07. Supersilent - 8
08. Hellbillies - Spissrotgang
09. My Midnight Creeps - Histamin
10. Magnet - The Simple Life
11. Madcon - So Dark the Con of Man
12. DHG - Supervillain Outcast
13. Diskjokke - Staying In
14. Håkon Kornstad - Single Engine
15. King Midas - Sorry
16. Raga Rockers - Übermensch
17. Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør
18. Manes - How The World Came To An End
19. Ungdomskulen - Cry-Baby
20. Diverse Artister - NRK Sessions - Club 7 Scene
More info: http://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/2007/12/04/520147.html?11967690211196769021
Pitchfork reviews the latest Supersilent record "8": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/47065-8
Themilkfactory weighs in on Supersilent's latest: http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/2007/11/supersilent-8-rune-grammofon/
Box, the avant supergroup featuring Raoul Björkenheim (Scorch Trio), Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, etc.), Ståle Storløkken (Supersilent) and Morgan Ågren (Mats/Morgan, Zappa's Universe), has now had their debut album "Studio 1" confirmed for release on January 14 via Rune Grammofon. Cover art and details: http://www.runegrammofon.com/artists/box/rcd-2070---box_-studio-1
Musique Machine reviews the latest Supersilent album "8": http://www.musiquemachine.com/reviews/reviews_template.php?id=1501
