When Bugge Wesseltoft and Henrik Schwarz produced their collaboration "Duo", it was clear that their synergy was both unique within, and revitalizing to, the whole genre of electro-acoustic beat-based improvisation. Now the duo becomes a trio, and the dialogue becomes a Trialogue. Bassist Dan Berglund (est, Tonbruket) brings additional dimensions and a whole new range of improvisational possibilities, new musical conversational topics, and a completely new layer of sound, giving this project a different drive, yet retaining the spirit of the Duo project. The result is an organic record, with Schwarz in the producer's chair.
A will to surprise – not just the audience, but themselves as well – dominates proceedings. Moments of quasi-ambient atmosphere sit alongside driving energetic swathes of blues-inflected jamming from the future, near-metallic semi-sinister meteor storms of sound rest easily beside moments of classic jazz noire, and there is a marked assimilation of classical chamber sensibilities. Pokerfaced humour laces intricately woven improvisations, and the harmonic interplay guides the listener into passages of sumptuous soloing from Wesseltoft and Berglund. Minimalist structures are re-crafted, building in hints of folk, eastern essences, spaciousness, and baroque inflections. A certain smoky jazz ambience pervades the whole, punctuated by moments where it feels like aliens have attempted to reconstruct jazz with just a few strands of musical DNA. Passages of the music are saturated with a fragile tension, bowed bass, lingering piano phrases, and endless static chatter. Sparse introductions seeming melt effortlessly into very tangible chord structures underpinned by gentle but insistent beats. The beats themselves travel the full spectrum, from electrostatic pulses to African tribal rhythms (many of the percussion parts are played and sampled by Schwarz rather than electronically generated). Although produced by Schwarz, this album is less overtly "electronic" than the Duo album created by Wesseltoft & Schwarz. Two of the 8 tracks on Trialogue (Movement Eleven and Movement Seventeen) feature an expanded acoustic line-up of strings and trombone, provided by musicians of the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, with arrangements by Wesseltoft. The result is a more diverse soundscape, the sonic variations creating a different kind of engagement, bringing with them hints of classical chamber music, yet ably underpinned by echoes of rhumba, fusion, and perhaps even the faintest rumble of prog rock.
With this debut release, the trio's "trialogue" in the studio is as dynamic, meditative, explosive, tranquil and unrelentingly memorable as their live performances. Where other musicians have engaged in similar stylistic juxtapositions, Wesseltoft, Schwarz and Berglund set themselves apart by managing the near-impossible feat of making a perfectly coherent aesthetic, a complete musical language of their own. This is a thoroughgoing post-postmodernist soundworld (let us leave it to critics to name it, as is their wont). What fans will recognise instantly is, simply put, great music.
They've got a lot to say and they use lots of languages to do so. So far I've discovered jazz, electronics, prog, classics and indie. There might be even more. freejazzy
Okay, I really like Sco's guitar work on 'The Hike' but I love 'The Mountain' because of the way Bugge lets loose on that track. Another super effort from RYMDEN! concord743
Wow. Bugge's work on Lugubrious Youth just conjures the spirit of Esbjorn so tangibly that I am a wreck every time I listen. But, while I still feel incredibly raw and angry about his death over 11 years ago, there is a sense of peace and even resolution to be found in this beautiful music - I hope it's the same for Magnus and Dan. Saw them in Manchester on this tour and so delighted to have this document. AllanB
Hanoi, Vietnam-based trio Mukang Fields take to the astral-jazz heavens on their genre-bending, time-distorting second LP.
Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 16, 2022
This Bandcamp exclusive comes complete with a head-spinning background story (check the album notes) and eerie electronics. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 29, 2023
My god, what an absolutely incredible Suite. I'll admit, I've struggled to get into Pharoah Sanders due to diving headfirst into some of his most challenging catalogue and that never worked. This is the perfect place to restart. Floating Points is new for me and I can honestly say I've never heard synthesizer music this lush and organic before. the LSO is just perfect. This is one of those albums that any serious music fan needs in their life. The perfect swan song for the great Pharaoh! 5/5 ClassyMusicSnob