Rune Grammofon was established in January 1998 with the aim to release music by the most creative and adventurous Norwegian artists. Since then, it has documented the amazing flowering and development of young Norwegian talent within the areas of electronica, improvisation, ambient, free music and everything in between to long-overdue international acclaim. Among those impressed is quality label ECM who has handled the European distribution since 2000. Special care is given to the packaging of all releases, most housed in digipacks and sporting the striking design of young multi-media artist, Kim Hiorthøy. "A vibrant vision." --The Wire; "Strikingly fresh cover art, impeccably recorded sound." --BBC Music Magazine; "A label on top of its game." --BBC Online; "An indie in the finest traditions." --Time Out; "On the forefront of Norwegian jazz/electronica..." --Wallpaper; "Norway's finest record label." --The Milk Factory; "Always eclectic and enjoyable." --Dusted; "A consistently interesting label." --Flux
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MPLP 306LP
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LP version. Considering the tight run of albums since the first part of the Gullvåg Trilogy in 2017 -- three double and a single album in less than four years -- the 16 months wait for Ancient Astronauts must feel like an eternity for the fans. Much of the music continue in the manner of Motorpsycho's popular long form "N.O.X." suite from The All Is One (MPCD 104CD/MPLP 304LP, 2020) album, including "Mona Lisa/Azrael" and "Chariot of The Sun", the latter clocking in at 22 minutes, being the band´s longest instrumental track to date. Most of Ancient Astronauts was recorded in Amper Tone studio in Oslo during five days in August with old compadre Deathprod at the helm. All four tracks are basically the band playing live in the studio, with the odd keyboards, some guitar and the vocals added afterwards. Some of it is in turns pretty frantic and angular or grandiose and hypnotic and is mined from the same sources as the band's more explorative music from recent years. Meaning there aren't many choruses to hang on to here, but plenty of mouthwatering music for the progheads. The album was mixed by Andrew Scheps.
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MPCD 106CD
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$14.50
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 4/7/2023
Considering the tight run of albums since the first part of the Gullvåg Trilogy in 2017 -- three double and a single album in less than four years -- the 16 months wait for Ancient Astronauts must feel like an eternity for the fans. Much of the music continue in the manner of Motorpsycho's popular long form "N.O.X." suite from The All Is One (MPCD 104CD/MPLP 304LP, 2020) album, including "Mona Lisa/Azrael" and "Chariot of The Sun", the latter clocking in at 22 minutes, being the band´s longest instrumental track to date. Most of Ancient Astronauts was recorded in Amper Tone studio in Oslo during five days in August with old compadre Deathprod at the helm. All four tracks are basically the band playing live in the studio, with the odd keyboards, some guitar and the vocals added afterwards. Some of it is in turns pretty frantic and angular or grandiose and hypnotic and is mined from the same sources as the band's more explorative music from recent years. Meaning there aren't many choruses to hang on to here, but plenty of mouthwatering music for the progheads. The album was mixed by Andrew Scheps.
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2LP
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RLP 2184CLR-LP
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$37.50
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 11/25/2022
Double LP version. Clear vinyl. Classic double live album in a great gatefold sleeve courtesy of Kim Hiorthøy. Hedvig Mollestad Trio present Evil In Oslo. If Black Stabat Mater (RCD 2183CD/RLP 3183LP, 2016) can be seen as moving into new terrains, then Evil In Oslo can serve as a summing up of the previous years, although there is also a clear link between the albums. While the nine live performances presented here all come from their first three studio albums, most are lengthy work-outs, again showing Hedvig as a very confident and accomplished solo guitarist. Recorded at Oslo clubs John Dee and Buckley's, Evil In Oslo is simply a kick-ass live album, with a very high level of musicianship and a perfect balance between freedom and discipline. The hi-res recordings capture both the energy level and all the details in a marvelous way. Liner notes by Richard Williams.
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2LP
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RLP 3228LP
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Double LP version. Hedvig Mollestad says her new album, Maternity Beat, is her most ambitious work to date, and that's not a proclamation to be taken lightly. Mollestad, after all, has been one of Norway's most adventurous and hardest-working musicians since the Molde International Jazz Festival named her the "Young Jazz Talent of the Year" in 2009. Recorded with the 12-piece Trondheim Jazz Orchestra (who have previously worked with legends like Chick Corea and Joshua Redman), Maternity Beat is a sprawling double album and true career milestone. In addition to encompassing the full evolution of her sound to date, it offers deeply personal meditations on the nature of family and pressing social justice issues. While listeners will no doubt encounter the Mahavishnu Orchestra-inspired fire music that has made the Hedvig Mollestad Trio (HM3) heavyweights in 21st-century fusion and jazz-metal, Maternity Beat also expands on the contemplative experimentation showcased on two of Mollestad's recent solo works: 2020's Ekhidna (RCD 2215CD/RLP 3215LP, 2020), and the Arne Nordheim-inspired Tempest Revisited (RCD 2223CD/RLP 3223LP, 2021), both of which netted her a Spellemannpris (the Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy). The sheer sonic and emotional scope of Maternity Beat required Mollestad wear multiple hats: guitar explorer, composer, arranger, improviser, collaborator, and, as the striking title implies, mother. That latter role serves as the album's thematic focus. This represents a novel direction for her. Back around 2019 -- when the Molde International Jazz Festival and Midtnorsk Jazzsenter originally commissioned the creation of Maternity Beat -- Mollestad felt compelled to compose a new and far more personal work that weighed her own privileged experiences with parenting and nurturing against the harsh political realities unfolding before her. Let's not forget: This was a time when graphic images of migrant families drowning at sea were flooding international news. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which further drove home how the economic systems in which we are all complicit tear apart humanity's far less fortunate. The harsh contrast of humanity and systemic failure fuels the tense shifts in mood coursing throughout Maternity Beat. Featuring the vocals of Mai Elise Solberg and Ingebjørg Loe Bjørnstad, the opening "On the Horizon Part 1" directly references the migrant crisis, while "On the Horizon Part 2" unleashes the full power of the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. Harrowing moments are counterbalanced by some of the most unabashedly touching music in Mollestad's catalog. "Her Own Shape," for example, expresses the profound desire of parents to give their children the tools they need to thrive. Jazz has witnessed an explosion of boundary-breaking creativity in the last several years. The boom of musicians interested in cutting-edge forms of fusion, spiritual jazz, and electronic-based improvisation has infused the genre with an urgency relevant to our tumultuous times. Mollestad -- who likens the making of Maternity Beat to the jittery thrill of "jumping off a cliff" -- embodies precisely the kind of daring that not only makes her a vital leader on the Norwegian jazz scene, but also a key voice in jazz's global vanguard.
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2LP
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RLP 2184LP
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$34.00
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 11/25/2022
Classic double live album in a great gatefold sleeve courtesy of Kim Hiorthøy. Hedvig Mollestad Trio present Evil In Oslo. If Black Stabat Mater (RCD 2183CD/RLP 3183LP, 2016) can be seen as moving into new terrains, then Evil In Oslo can serve as a summing up of the previous years, although there is also a clear link between the albums. While the nine live performances presented here all come from their first three studio albums, most are lengthy work-outs, again showing Hedvig as a very confident and accomplished solo guitarist. Recorded at Oslo clubs John Dee and Buckley's, Evil In Oslo is simply a kick-ass live album, with a very high level of musicianship and a perfect balance between freedom and discipline. The hi-res recordings capture both the energy level and all the details in a marvelous way. Liner notes by Richard Williams.
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RCD 2228CD
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Hedvig Mollestad says her new album, Maternity Beat, is her most ambitious work to date, and that's not a proclamation to be taken lightly. Mollestad, after all, has been one of Norway's most adventurous and hardest-working musicians since the Molde International Jazz Festival named her the "Young Jazz Talent of the Year" in 2009. Recorded with the 12-piece Trondheim Jazz Orchestra (who have previously worked with legends like Chick Corea and Joshua Redman), Maternity Beat is a sprawling double album and true career milestone. In addition to encompassing the full evolution of her sound to date, it offers deeply personal meditations on the nature of family and pressing social justice issues. While listeners will no doubt encounter the Mahavishnu Orchestra-inspired fire music that has made the Hedvig Mollestad Trio (HM3) heavyweights in 21st-century fusion and jazz-metal, Maternity Beat also expands on the contemplative experimentation showcased on two of Mollestad's recent solo works: 2020's Ekhidna (RCD 2215CD/RLP 3215LP, 2020), and the Arne Nordheim-inspired Tempest Revisited (RCD 2223CD/RLP 3223LP, 2021), both of which netted her a Spellemannpris (the Norwegian equivalent of a Grammy). The sheer sonic and emotional scope of Maternity Beat required Mollestad wear multiple hats: guitar explorer, composer, arranger, improviser, collaborator, and, as the striking title implies, mother. That latter role serves as the album's thematic focus. This represents a novel direction for her. Back around 2019 -- when the Molde International Jazz Festival and Midtnorsk Jazzsenter originally commissioned the creation of Maternity Beat -- Mollestad felt compelled to compose a new and far more personal work that weighed her own privileged experiences with parenting and nurturing against the harsh political realities unfolding before her. Let's not forget: This was a time when graphic images of migrant families drowning at sea were flooding international news. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which further drove home how the economic systems in which we are all complicit tear apart humanity's far less fortunate. The harsh contrast of humanity and systemic failure fuels the tense shifts in mood coursing throughout Maternity Beat. Featuring the vocals of Mai Elise Solberg and Ingebjørg Loe Bjørnstad, the opening "On the Horizon Part 1" directly references the migrant crisis, while "On the Horizon Part 2" unleashes the full power of the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. Harrowing moments are counterbalanced by some of the most unabashedly touching music in Mollestad's catalog. "Her Own Shape," for example, expresses the profound desire of parents to give their children the tools they need to thrive. Jazz has witnessed an explosion of boundary-breaking creativity in the last several years. The boom of musicians interested in cutting-edge forms of fusion, spiritual jazz, and electronic-based improvisation has infused the genre with an urgency relevant to our tumultuous times. Mollestad -- who likens the making of Maternity Beat to the jittery thrill of "jumping off a cliff" -- embodies precisely the kind of daring that not only makes her a vital leader on the Norwegian jazz scene, but also a key voice in jazz's global vanguard.
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LP
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RLP 3229LP
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Who Do You Love The Most? is the young trio's third album in just over four years, and continues in the tradition of their two previous efforts; beautiful and evocative melodies, rich on harmonies, often rhythmically complex textures and a typically folk-like Scandinavian character with the occasional gospel feel. The album's ten songs are all Kjetil Mulelid originals, except for a gripping cover of Judee Sill's "The Archetypical Man". Two of the originals are the trio's versions of songs that first appeared on the pianist's much lauded solo piano album (Piano) from 2021 (RCD 2220CD/RLP 3220LP).
Kjetil André Mulelid comes across as an exceptionally mature pianist and composer. The trio's 2017 debut Not Nearly Enough To Buy A House (RCD 2196CD/RLP 3196LP) received wide international acclaim, with writers most typically mentioning Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans. The praise continued for 2019's follow-up What You Thought Was Home (RCD 2208CD/RLP 3208LP), with the Jazz Journal giving it a 5/5 rating and calling it "some of the most captivating music I´ve heard in quite some while". All About Jazz noted the maturity of the work, feeling like coming from three well-seasoned pros. Mulelid grew up in the small village of Hurdal, and started playing the piano when he was nine, after hearing Chopin on the stereo. Later he did a bachelor degree in jazz performance at NTNU in Trondheim, blessed with top teachers such as Erling Aksdal, Vigleik Storaas and Espen Berg. He is also a member of jazz quartet Wako. Bjørn Marius Hegge has been making waves on the Norwegian jazz scene lately, with his quintet's debut album Hegge winning a Norwegian Grammy. He has his own trio as well, with pianist Oscar Grönberg and young drummer ace Hans Hulbækmo (Moskus). In 2019 he released Ideas with Axel Dörner, Rudi Mahall, Håvard Wiik, and Hans Hulbækmo. Andreas Skår Winther is, like the other two, a "product" of the fertile milieu at the Trondheim Conservatory of Music. His discography includes Left Exit, Mr. K with Michael Duch and Klaus Holm (Clean Feed) and Megalodon Collective.
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CD
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RCD 2225CD
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The band describe themselves as a spaced-out, instrumental lounge rock outfit, with added vibes of folk music, jazzy surf, psychedelia, free improvised chill-out, jangly post-rock, and travelling bass. Not much to add here, apart from possibly a pinch of krautrock. Tellus is the quartet's fourth album, and their debut on Rune Grammofon. Being something of an all-star team from the fertile psychedelic space drone scene in Haugesund on the west coast of Norway, the members also pay their dues in bands like Electric Eye, Lumen Drones (ECM), Undergrünnen, and The Low Frequency in Stereo, whose album Futuro was released by Rune Grammofon back in 2009 (RCD 2082CD). On Tellus they are joined by Sigbjørn Apeland, a much-esteemed musician largely operating in a landscape of folk music, church music and improvisation. He is a member of Nils Økland Band (ECM and Hubro) and has collaborated with him for 30 years, also appearing on his two albums for Rune Grammofon; Straum (2000, RCD 2015CD) and Bris (2004, RCD 2042CD). Also appearing on Tellus is Ståle Liavik Solberg, a central force on Oslo's thriving improvised music scene. He has performed worldwide with numerous Norwegian and international musicians and curates the excellent Blow Out! festival. With Tellus, Action & Tension & Space heads into the Hardangervidda (the big plains connecting the eastern and western parts of southern Norway) terrain of wide-open spaces, spare vegetation and unruly weather conditions, especially during the winter. The album was recorded in a small studio in Haugesund during two days of heavy rain showers and stormy winds rumbling outside the windows. Personnel: Per Steinar Lie - lapsteel, electric guitar; Øystein Braut - guitar, organ, Mellotron; Julius Lind - double bass; Ørjan Haaland - drums; Sigbjørn Apeland - harmonium, Fender Rhodes; Ståle Liavik Solberg - percussion.
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12"
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REP 2226EP
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One-sided EP with screen print on B-side. No two FIRE! records sound the same, but with Requies they venture into uncharted territory. Musically ever expanding and no strangers to collaborations, FIRE! this time team up with no other than the one and only Stephen O'Malley from Sunn O))) and David Sandström from legendary Swedish hardcore punk band Refused for a truly epic 21-minute ebb and flow journey starting with church bells and ending in a whirlwind of postpunk energy. Spellbinding stuff. Flip it over and discover the stunning silk screen print courtesy of Kim Hiorthøy on the B-side. Strictly limited to 1000 numbered copies, this is a most desirable object you don't want to miss. FIRE!'s debut album, You Liked Me Five Minutes Ago (RCD 2091CD/RLP 3091LP), was released in 2009 to wide international acclaim. "The basic strategy of pairing the expressive energy of free jazz with a sturdy sense of groove has yielded something potent and self-contained" (New York Times). Between their debut and their previous album Defeat (RCD 2217CD/RLP 3217LP, 2021) there's been five albums, including collaborations with Jim O'Rourke (Unreleased?, RCD 2111CD/RLP 3111LP, 2011) and Oren Ambarchi (In The Mouth A Hand, 2012). Mats Gustafsson - bass sax, organ and live electronics; Johan Berthling - electric bass; Andreas Werliin - drums; Stephen O'Malley - guitar; David Sandström - drums.
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CD
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RCD 2229CD
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Who Do You Love The Most? is the young trio's third album in just over four years, and continues in the tradition of their two previous efforts; beautiful and evocative melodies, rich on harmonies, often rhythmically complex textures and a typically folk-like Scandinavian character with the occasional gospel feel. The album's ten songs are all Kjetil Mulelid originals, except for a gripping cover of Judee Sill's "The Archetypical Man". Two of the originals are the trio's versions of songs that first appeared on the pianist's much lauded solo piano album (Piano) from 2021 (RCD 2220CD/RLP 3220LP). Kjetil André Mulelid comes across as an exceptionally mature pianist and composer.
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LP
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RLP 3223LP
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LP version. Hedvig Mollestad must surely be one of the hardest working musicians on the Norwegian music scene at the moment, with Tempest Revisited being her third album in a mere 18 months, all at a consistently high artistic level. Her first solo album, Ekhidna (RCD 2215CD/RLP 3215LP, 2020), received a Spellemannpris (Norwegian Grammy), appeared on several jazz and rock best of the year lists and got her into Downbeat's "25 for the future" selection. Tempest Revisited draws lines back to 1998 and the very beginning of Rune Grammofon. This was the year the label released Electric (RCD 2002CD/RLP 3002LP), the collected electronic works of Arne Nordheim, one of Norway's greatest composers. It was also the year when parts of "The Tempest", possibly his most cherished and well-known work, was chosen to be performed at the opening of Parken, the new cultural house in Ålesund, birthplace of Hedvig Mollestad. To celebrate 20 years, the culture house was ready for a new storm, and the first name that came to them was Hedvig, a local artist that was already making waves on the international scene with her power-trio. Hedvig took inspiration from the front of the house, adorned with Nordheim's score for The Tempest, at the same time making a direct connection to the sometime heavy weather conditions of this coastal area in the northwest part of Norway. One could say it's a big paradox that over all this might be Hedvig's most lyrical and less aggressive collection of music. On the other hand, it's quite a dynamic record, lots of light and shade and enough sonic parts at work to evoke the elements, the mighty Gran Cassa drum only one of them. The music included here was adapted from the initial performance in 2018 and produced by Hedvig in the studio the following year for this album release. The musicians included are old friends Marte Eberson from the Ekhidna band, Ivar Loe Bjørnstad from her trio and Trond Frønes (Red Kite) on bass as well as three sax players.
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LP
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RLP 3225LP
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LP version. The band describe themselves as a spaced-out, instrumental lounge rock outfit, with added vibes of folk music, jazzy surf, psychedelia, free improvised chill-out, jangly post-rock, and travelling bass. Not much to add here, apart from possibly a pinch of krautrock. Tellus is the quartet's fourth album, and their debut on Rune Grammofon. Being something of an all-star team from the fertile psychedelic space drone scene in Haugesund on the west coast of Norway, the members also pay their dues in bands like Electric Eye, Lumen Drones (ECM), Undergrünnen, and The Low Frequency in Stereo, whose album Futuro was released by Rune Grammofon back in 2009 (RCD 2082CD). On Tellus they are joined by Sigbjørn Apeland, a much-esteemed musician largely operating in a landscape of folk music, church music and improvisation. He is a member of Nils Økland Band (ECM and Hubro) and has collaborated with him for 30 years, also appearing on his two albums for Rune Grammofon; Straum (2000, RCD 2015CD) and Bris (2004, RCD 2042CD). Also appearing on Tellus is Ståle Liavik Solberg, a central force on Oslo's thriving improvised music scene. He has performed worldwide with numerous Norwegian and international musicians and curates the excellent Blow Out! festival. With Tellus, Action & Tension & Space heads into the Hardangervidda (the big plains connecting the eastern and western parts of southern Norway) terrain of wide-open spaces, spare vegetation and unruly weather conditions, especially during the winter. The album was recorded in a small studio in Haugesund during two days of heavy rain showers and stormy winds rumbling outside the windows. Personnel: Per Steinar Lie - lapsteel, electric guitar; Øystein Braut - guitar, organ, Mellotron; Julius Lind - double bass; Ørjan Haaland - drums; Sigbjørn Apeland - harmonium, Fender Rhodes; Ståle Liavik Solberg - percussion.
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CD
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RCD 2227CD
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After five successful studio albums in 12 years, here is Espen Erisken Trio's first live album, by popular demand. A popular concert attraction in Norway through Europe, Russia, and South East Asia, the trio have constantly been asked when they will release a concert recording. Five of the seven tracks were recorded live in concert at Oslo's Nasjonal Jazzscene in 2018 and 2020, one at a special one-off intimate concert at Propeller Music Division in Oslo in 2020, and one in Poznan, Poland, in 2021. Six of the seven tracks are extended versions of Eriksen originals from four of the studio albums, adding instrumental vividness as well as dramatic and moving elements to the event. The seventh is a splendid cover of Krzysztof Komeda's iconic "Rosemary's Baby".
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CD
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RCD 2224CD
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Back in 2020, Kafé Hærverk, Oslo's live hotspot for a wide range of jazz and experimental music invited Master Oogway to do monthly concerts from August to December, bringing along a guest for each occasion. Two had to be moved to 2021 due to Covid restrictions, but the other three were recorded for possible use later. Initially, Rune Grammofon thought about doing a "best of" from all of the recordings, but after further listening it soon dawned on the label that the concert with Henriette Eilertsen was nothing less than magical. To make room for the 45-minute vinyl edition, Rune Grammofon had to drop one of the five pieces that were played on the night, and also make two minor edits. Other than that, this is what was played, there are no overdubs or cosmetic treatments. Henriette Eilertsen is part of the fertile and exciting environment around the Motvind label, and a member of Billy Meier and Andreas Røysum Ensemble. She released her solo debut Poems For Flute on Motvind in 2021. Håvard Nordberg Funderud finished his Bachelors at the Norwegian Academy of Music in 2018 and also studied in Gothenburg and Copenhagen. He is involved in several projects, Master Oogway being his priority. Lauritz Lyster Skeidsvoll and Karl Erik Horndalsveen are both educated from the same academy in Oslo as Håvard, while Martin Heggli Mellem is educated from the jazz program at NTNU in Trondheim. Happy Village is Master Oogway's third album, their second on Rune Grammofon. The music on the previous outing two years ago, Earth And Other Worlds (RCD 2213CD/RLP 3213LP) was all written by Håvard, while the music on Happy Village is written by Karl Erik, one track co-written with Håvard. Happy Village finds the band in a more lyrical and exuberant mood than before, in no small part due to Henriette's beautiful contributions. Personnel: Håvard Nordberg Funderud - guitar and 12-string guitar; Lauritz Heitmann Skeidsvoll - saxophone; Martin Heggli Mellem - drums; Karl Erik Hornsdalsveen - double bass; Henriette Eilertsen - flute. The album was brilliantly mixed in Athletic Sound by Dag Erik Johansen.
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LP
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RLP 3224LP
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LP version. Back in 2020, Kafé Hærverk, Oslo's live hotspot for a wide range of jazz and experimental music invited Master Oogway to do monthly concerts from August to December, bringing along a guest for each occasion. Two had to be moved to 2021 due to Covid restrictions, but the other three were recorded for possible use later. Initially, Rune Grammofon thought about doing a "best of" from all of the recordings, but after further listening it soon dawned on the label that the concert with Henriette Eilertsen was nothing less than magical. To make room for the 45-minute vinyl edition, Rune Grammofon had to drop one of the five pieces that were played on the night, and also make two minor edits. Other than that, this is what was played, there are no overdubs or cosmetic treatments. Henriette Eilertsen is part of the fertile and exciting environment around the Motvind label, and a member of Billy Meier and Andreas Røysum Ensemble. She released her solo debut Poems For Flute on Motvind in 2021. Håvard Nordberg Funderud finished his Bachelors at the Norwegian Academy of Music in 2018 and also studied in Gothenburg and Copenhagen. He is involved in several projects, Master Oogway being his priority. Lauritz Lyster Skeidsvoll and Karl Erik Horndalsveen are both educated from the same academy in Oslo as Håvard, while Martin Heggli Mellem is educated from the jazz program at NTNU in Trondheim. Happy Village is Master Oogway's third album, their second on Rune Grammofon. The music on the previous outing two years ago, Earth And Other Worlds (RCD 2213CD/RLP 3213LP) was all written by Håvard, while the music on Happy Village is written by Karl Erik, one track co-written with Håvard. Happy Village finds the band in a more lyrical and exuberant mood than before, in no small part due to Henriette's beautiful contributions. Personnel: Håvard Nordberg Funderud - guitar and 12-string guitar; Lauritz Heitmann Skeidsvoll - saxophone; Martin Heggli Mellem - drums; Karl Erik Hornsdalsveen - double bass; Henriette Eilertsen - flute. The album was brilliantly mixed in Athletic Sound by Dag Erik Johansen.
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RCD 2223CD
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Hedvig Mollestad must surely be one of the hardest working musicians on the Norwegian music scene at the moment, with Tempest Revisited being her third album in a mere 18 months, all at a consistently high artistic level. Her first solo album, Ekhidna (RCD 2215CD/RLP 3215LP, 2020), received a Spellemannpris (Norwegian Grammy), appeared on several jazz and rock best of the year lists and got her into Downbeat's "25 for the future" selection. Tempest Revisited draws lines back to 1998 and the very beginning of Rune Grammofon. This was the year the label released Electric (RCD 2002CD/RLP 3002LP), the collected electronic works of Arne Nordheim, one of Norway's greatest composers. It was also the year when parts of "The Tempest", possibly his most cherished and well-known work, was chosen to be performed at the opening of Parken, the new cultural house in Ålesund, birthplace of Hedvig Mollestad. To celebrate 20 years, the culture house was ready for a new storm, and the first name that came to them was Hedvig, a local artist that was already making waves on the international scene with her power-trio. Hedvig took inspiration from the front of the house, adorned with Nordheim's score for The Tempest, at the same time making a direct connection to the sometime heavy weather conditions of this coastal area in the northwest part of Norway. One could say it's a big paradox that over all this might be Hedvig's most lyrical and less aggressive collection of music. On the other hand, it's quite a dynamic record, lots of light and shade and enough sonic parts at work to evoke the elements, the mighty Gran Cassa drum only one of them. The music included here was adapted from the initial performance in 2018 and produced by Hedvig in the studio the following year for this album release. The musicians included are old friends Marte Eberson from the Ekhidna band, Ivar Loe Bjørnstad from her trio and Trond Frønes (Red Kite) on bass as well as three sax players.
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RCD 2221CD
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As is the common circumstance for so many new groups forming in Norway this century, Sex Magick Wizards met at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo where they studied jazz and improvisation. They released their promising debut album Eroto Comatose Lucidity in 2019 through a small, local label based in northern Norway, where leader and guitarist Viktor Bomstad was born. Viktor Bomstad was raised on a diet of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Jimi Hendrix before being introduced to Django Reinhardt, a turning point in his life. After several years of cultivating a more traditional jazz direction he became engulfed in the possibilities of free jazz. He later returned to his local roots, including a deep dive into traditional joik. Sigrid Aftret is an exciting sax player known for her strong musical presence and open approach to improvisation. She's been making waves on Oslo's fertile and ever-growing improv scene, performing solo and in various constellations and band projects. Henrik Sandstad Dalen is firmly grounded in jazz and improvisation and is always looking to stretch the limits by challenging himself as well as the listener. He's a tireless source of any musical ideas that will develop the band as a living organism. Ingvald André Vassbø is a very active and in demand young drummer. He took over the sticks after Axel Skalstad (Krokofant), who played on their debut. Raised on progressive rock and jazz from a young age, he has ample experience with both heavy metal as well as improvisation. He's also a member of Kanaan and Juno, and played in Hedvig Mollestad's "Maternity Beat" project with Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. Opener "Qliphoth Chokehold" immediately sets the tone with a frantic, slightly angular yet controlled burst of energy, propelled by drummer Vassbø. "Exaltation", written by Aftret, nods to early '70s Swedish folkish prog, while the concluding title track brings to mind their mighty stablemates Fire! All in all, the new album is a more varied and dynamic affair and cultivates a more refined expression while retaining the pure energy of the debut. The tunes are more defined, at the same time opening up for a freer and more seamless interaction. The result is seven distinctive tracks where each member is allowed to shine without sacrificing the unifying quest for a strong group signature.
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RCD 2222CD
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As David Fricke pointed out in his liner notes to Q (RCD 2209CD/RLP 3209LP), the previous album from this expanded edition of Krokofant, this is not just another novelty guest-project. In fact, all the involved were so happy after finishing Q that a follow-up was decided upon straight away. So here it is, with four new tunes from guitarist and leader Tom Hasslan, each clocking in between eight and twelve minutes. Originally a guitar and drums duo, Tom and Axel met in a guitar shop in Kongsberg, a town in southern Norway famous for its annual jazz festival since 1964, and recognized for its experimental and innovative profile. Jørgen was invited to join them for the sessions that resulted in their self-titled debut album in February 2014. Two more albums followed in 2015 and 2017. When considering guest musicians for Q, to become their fourth album, keyboard maestro Ståle Storløkken (Elephant9, Supersilent, Terje Rypdal) was the trio's first choice. He had seen Krokofant live in 2015 and, in his own words, "had an instant kick", so he said yes straight away. Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (Scorch Trio, The Thing, Atomic) had seen them the same year, and after a few backstage beers practically invited himself to join up at some time. By his introduction, a "proper" rhythm section was born and work was lifted from Hasslan's shoulders. Hasslan's tunes are perfect vehicles for Storløkken to present the full scope of his playing; from sheer pastoral beauty to full on jazz skronk. The same can be said about Mathisen, who is given ample room for soloing. The tunes are rich in harmonic structures and melodic hooks, but there is also room for adventures into more free passages. Many names have been mentioned in connection with Krokofant over the years, but with the distinctive sax and organ combination, it's difficult not think of Van der Graaf Generator in their prime. Which is the highest accolade in our book, anyway. Thus, the expanded Krokofant is everything a progressive jazz and rock fan could wish for; positive energy, melodic riches, excellent musicianship and a touch of magic served with a healthy respect for the past and a foot in the future.
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MPCD 105CD
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One would think that after the Gullvåg Trilogy -- two double and a single album in a mere three years -- the ultra-productive trio Motorpsycho might be in need of a break of sorts... but on the other hand, riding a golden wave like never before in their 30+ year existence, why stop now? The bulk of the album was recorded in France back before the pandemic, but was added to, tweaked and finished in 2020. The initial idea was to collect big riffs on one album and do a pure hard rock record, but the objective changed along the way as they rediscovered their folkish bent and how this lighter touch gave it all a nice contrast. Mixed by Andrew Scheps. Produced by Bent Sæther. Reine Fiske guests on several tracks.
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2LP
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MPLP 305C-LP
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[no stock available] Gatefold double LP version. Limited clear vinyl. One would think that after the Gullvåg Trilogy -- two double and a single album in a mere three years -- the ultra-productive trio Motorpsycho might be in need of a break of sorts... but on the other hand, riding a golden wave like never before in their 30+ year existence, why stop now? The bulk of the album was recorded in France back before the pandemic, but was added to, tweaked and finished in 2020. The initial idea was to collect big riffs on one album and do a pure hard rock record, but the objective changed along the way as they rediscovered their folkish bent and how this lighter touch gave it all a nice contrast. Mixed by Andrew Scheps. Produced by Bent Sæther. Reine Fiske guests on several tracks.
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2LP
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MPLP 305LP
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Gatefold double LP version. One would think that after the Gullvåg Trilogy -- two double and a single album in a mere three years -- the ultra-productive trio Motorpsycho might be in need of a break of sorts... but on the other hand, riding a golden wave like never before in their 30+ year existence, why stop now? The bulk of the album was recorded in France back before the pandemic, but was added to, tweaked and finished in 2020. The initial idea was to collect big riffs on one album and do a pure hard rock record, but the objective changed along the way as they rediscovered their folkish bent and how this lighter touch gave it all a nice contrast. Mixed by Andrew Scheps. Produced by Bent Sæther. Reine Fiske guests on several tracks.
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RCD 2212CD
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Original score by Krzysztof Penderecki. New reading and conduction by Mats Gustafsson. The first (and until now only?) recorded interpretation of Krzysztof Penderecki's Actions For Free Jazz Orchestra took place in 1971 at Donaueschingen and featured the New Eternal Rhythm Orchestra, assembled by Don Cherry for the occasion and conducted by the great Polish composer. That orchestra also consisted of 14 musicians, including international jazz heavyweights such as Kenny Wheeler, Peter Brötzmann, Thomasz Stanko, Terje Rypdal, Han Bennink, and others. Don Cherry himself did not perform. Penderecki had heard the Globe Unity Orchestra a couple of years earlier and was fascinated by the possibilities of working with musicians from a different background and with other perspectives than he was used to from the classical world. The challenge for all involved was to find the right balance between composition and improvisation. The idea was initially met with some skepticism from the musicians, but this soon gave way to acceptance and even eagerness. The new, extended reading by Mats Gustafsson and Fire! Orchestra was commissioned by the Sacrum Profanum festival in Kraków, Poland in 2018. The idea was to place this classic piece in a contemporary setting, with a new approach and a new body of sound. However, the original score was used as a platform for the new reading, connecting history with the present. A score in this context is most often of a graphic nature to present reference points, visualized on the sleeve by Kim Hiorthøy's cut-up adaption of Mats Gustafsson's score. It's also worth noticing that the instrumentation is more or less identical to that of 1971, the main difference being a tuba replacing one of the trombones. Finally, this new reading clocks in at 40 minutes, and is thus considerably longer than the 1971 version. This line-up of the Fire! Orchestra is unique in that it's the first time without founding members and singers Mariam Wallentin and Sofia Jernberg. It's also the first time with guitarist Reine Fiske.
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RLP 3219LP
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LP version. Only nine months after Hedvig Mollestad momentous debut solo album Ekhidna (RCD 2215CD/RLP 3215LP), the guitarist is back fronting her trio. With their previous album, Smells Funny (RCD 2203CD/RLP 3203LP, 2019), this explosive and expansive trio experienced a breakthrough of sorts, having gone from strength to strength through five albums since their 2011 debut Shoot! (RCD 2115CD/RLP 3115LP, 2011), gathering respect from both rock and jazz camps, sharing big stages with the likes of John McLaughlin and Black Sabbath, and being equally comfortable on jazz and rock stages. Hedvig enforced this breakthrough with Ekhidna, appearing on both jazz and rock best of 2020 lists, like coming in third in Prog's "Album of the Year" poll. With the hypnotic title track, the spacious ballad "Four Candles" and generally a more varied mood, Ding Dong. You're Dead. is the trio's most dynamic album to date. That said there's still enough solid and creative riffing here to satisfy the headbangers, as well as the jazzheads, as they further explore the free and open landscapes most notably started with their Black Stabat Mater album (RCD 2183CD/RLP 3183LP, 2016) and continued with Smells Funny. As Nate Chinen wrote about Black Stabat Mater in JazzTimes: "Her trio, which has Ellen Brekken on bass and Ivar Loe Bjørnstad on drums, caught my ear then with its audacious style references: the loose swagger of early Black Sabbath; the density and prowl of peak Led Zeppelin; the expeditionary urge of Jimi Hendrix; the incantatory fervor of John McLaughlin." This trio radiates confidence and have become a surefire hit on the Norwegian live scene. And while we rightly praise Hedvig's exceptional abilities, let's not forget how important the rhythm section is to make it all work so well. Ellen Brekken is an accomplished bassist, driving the band just as hard on the electric bass as on the acoustic. Then there's Ivar Loe Bjørnstad, not your regular rock drummer, not your regular jazz drummer, but in possession of the loose swagger mentioned above.
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RCD 2219CD
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Only nine months after Hedvig Mollestad momentous debut solo album Ekhidna (RCD 2215CD/RLP 3215LP), the guitarist is back fronting her trio. With their previous album, Smells Funny (RCD 2203CD/RLP 3203LP, 2019), this explosive and expansive trio experienced a breakthrough of sorts, having gone from strength to strength through five albums since their 2011 debut Shoot! (RCD 2115CD/RLP 3115LP, 2011), gathering respect from both rock and jazz camps, sharing big stages with the likes of John McLaughlin and Black Sabbath, and being equally comfortable on jazz and rock stages. Hedvig enforced this breakthrough with Ekhidna, appearing on both jazz and rock best of 2020 lists, like coming in third in Prog's "Album of the Year" poll. With the hypnotic title track, the spacious ballad "Four Candles" and generally a more varied mood, Ding Dong. You're Dead. is the trio's most dynamic album to date. That said there's still enough solid and creative riffing here to satisfy the headbangers, as well as the jazzheads, as they further explore the free and open landscapes most notably started with their Black Stabat Mater album (RCD 2183CD/RLP 3183LP, 2016) and continued with Smells Funny. As Nate Chinen wrote about Black Stabat Mater in JazzTimes: "Her trio, which has Ellen Brekken on bass and Ivar Loe Bjørnstad on drums, caught my ear then with its audacious style references: the loose swagger of early Black Sabbath; the density and prowl of peak Led Zeppelin; the expeditionary urge of Jimi Hendrix; the incantatory fervor of John McLaughlin." This trio radiates confidence and have become a surefire hit on the Norwegian live scene. And while we rightly praise Hedvig's exceptional abilities, let's not forget how important the rhythm section is to make it all work so well. Ellen Brekken is an accomplished bassist, driving the band just as hard on the electric bass as on the acoustic. Then there's Ivar Loe Bjørnstad, not your regular rock drummer, not your regular jazz drummer, but in possession of the loose swagger mentioned above.
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RLP 3218LP
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LP version. After a solid run of five studio albums and 2019's two double live albums, Psychedelic Backfire I and II, Elephant9 had taken their groovy mix of high energy rock and power jazz as far as they could. In this respect, Arrival Of The New Elders comes as a welcome and most timely addition to their recorded output. More varied, mature and reflective, don't let the self-ironic (?) title mislead you, they are as groovy as ever, but more structured and less jam oriented, with the longest track clocking in around the seven-minute mark. Rather short, by their standards. Having built a solid live reputation even before their brilliant 2008 debut Dodovoodoo, the trio boasts what is probably the strongest rhythm section in Norway, complemented with keyboard magician extraordinaire, the one and only Ståle Storløkken. And boy, does he excel himself on this album, notably with more focus on the Rhodes than before. That said, this is nothing if not another strong group effort from what has been a very tight unit straight from the outset. Seven brand new compositions from Storløkken and one from Nikolai Hængsle make way for what Rune Grammofon consider to be their finest and most cohesive album to date. Arrival Of The New Elders was recorded by trusted stalwart Christian Engfelt, with early Dungen producer Mattias Glavå handling the mixing duties. Ståle started his musical journey in Veslefrekk with Jarle Vespestad and Arve Henriksen in the '90s, soon morphing into Supersilent with Helge Sten on board. He's also a member of Møster! and Humcrush, and have collaborated with a number of artists, most notably Motorpsycho. Nikolai is also a member of Bigbang, Needlepoint and Band Of Gold and have appeared on a couple of hundred records. The same goes for Torstein, an associate member of numerous bands ranging from pop and soul to free jazz. But Elephant9 has always been their special baby. Personnel: Ståle Storløkken - Rhodes piano, Hammond organ, grand piano, Eminent 310, Mellotron, Continuum; Nikolai Hængsle - electric bass, electric and acoustic guitars; Torstein Lofthus - drums, percussion.
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