Record Reviews

ALICE & THE MOUNTAIN ~ STRIPPED LOSEN 293 (Barcode: 7090025832932) ~ NORWAY ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 2014 Released: 2024 This is an album by Norwegian singer / songwriter Silje KafjordFind albums by this artist, who uses the moniker Alice & The MountainFind albums by this artist, recorded in a duo format with pianist Bernt MoenFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, seven of which were composed by Kafjord and one co-composed with Moen. The lyrics (in English) are (assumably) by Kafjord. The music is as intimate and “naked” as possible, recorded live in the studio with an upright piano and natural echo, similar to home recordings done in the distant past (like the 1960s). This special approach creates a charming, albeit somewhat naïve atmosphere, and the music lacks dynamics. This combined with the somewhat limited melodic scope, make this album sound somewhat “primitive” in today’s standards. But the music is honest and heartfelt, and completely different from today’s studio trickery and artificial effects, and as such has its charm and natural beauty. Kafjord has a playful, almost childish approach to her vocal delivery, which again is charming in a way. Overall, this is a nice, and quite unusually simplistic sound-wise album in today’s standard, but the minimalism and directness are refreshing and surprisingly pleasant. For listeners, who like unusual Pop, singer / songwriter material sung with a slightly foreign accent, but charming anyway.

Updated: 07/09/2024Posted: 07/09/2024

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NYPAN ~ STEREOTOMIC LOSEN 168 (Barcode: 7090025831683) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is a live recording by a quartet led by Norwegian guitarist / composer Oyvind NypanFind albums by this artist, with pianist Bernt MoenFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Egil KalmanFind albums by this artist and drummer Ole MofjellFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Nypan. This is Nypan´s fourth album and his second release on the excellent Norwegian LosenFind albums on this label Records. The music is typical guitar focused modern Jazz, which in spite of the fact that the musicians are Scandinavian, sounds very American, both stylistically and aesthetically. The compositions are melody based, but allow relative freedom, which includes some irregular rhythmic patterns and open structure. The melody stays basically well in the background, serving only as a vehicle for the guitar and less often also the piano to play their respective solos. The rhythm section seems to have some difficulties to follow the leader during the complex pieces and stays respectfully way in the background most of the time. When the music enters a Free Improvisation mode, it sort of falls apart. When a quartet plays a slow ballad or a straightforward swinging music, everything works well, but the music becomes corny. Overall, although the participants are all very experienced and skilled musicians, the album lacks coherence and clarity to make it an enjoyable listening experience. Some melodic guitar parts are able to hold water for a while, but at some point the magic is simply lost. Guitar freaks might find this album interesting, at least in part, although it is rather difficult to grasp as a whole. Good intentions that did not pay off this time…Of course only my very personal view.

Updated: 16/05/2017Posted: 16/05/2017

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