[2007] Peter Brötzmann, Paal Nilssen-Love & Mats Gustafsson - The Fat Is Gone

Three long songs, three renowned exponents of the contemporary european jazz scene. The Fat Is Gone gathers Paal Nilssen-Love and Mats Gustafsson (from The Thing) with one of the big legends of the German jazz scene (Peter Brötzmann), who displays his wildest, most intense musical side to be in par with the two Scandinavian improvisers, resulting in a very dense record, a must listen.

Buy it directly from Robot here.

[2006] - Panzerpappa - Koralrevens Klagesang

Norwegian avant-prog in the vein of Samla Mammas Manna and Art Zoyd, although in a less dark, instrumental style that differences them from the classic RIO bands. It still follows some of the ideas from the scene while applying its own personal style, which becomes evident from the very first listen. Good material for those looking for rare, modern gems within the avant-prog scene.




Currently unavailable.

[2009] Supersilent - 9

Back to the extremely low key improvisations, consisting mostly by fiddling with organs. This is definitely another album in the vein of 5 or 6 (specially 5), whose quiet, tense parts are more prominent than those with instrumentation. Dark and brooding, it still manages to retain the style of the band, despite having no percussion at all.

Downloaad it here: [V0][FLAC]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2007] Supersilent - 8

Similar in vein to 7, less chaotic and with an emphasis in Helge Sten's electronic dabbling. Part of this session became part of what was later released as 11, the same free form drumming with Henriksen's slow and sultry trumpet can be heard here.

Download it here: [V0][FLAC]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2005] Supersilent - 7

Live DVD release (only audio provided), following the continuity of their previous releases but straying away (once again) from the sound of their preceding album (heavily relying in electronic elements) in order to showcase their wide experience in free improvisation, clocking at 1h48min of live show.

Download it here: [V0][FLAC]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2003] Supersilent - 6

Picking up where it left off, 6 retains some of the minimalistic style introduced in 5, but this time the electronic contributions of Helge Sten and Arve Henriksen's slow, sultry trumpet take over and gives the album a very melancholic, reflexive mood. It constantly toys with off-putting, bizarre synth melodies, overlapping and enhancing the dark atmosphere.

Download it here: [V0][FLAC]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2001] Supersilent - 5

Another radical change of pace in their style, this release is very minimal in style. While there's several free jazz bursts that rise from the almost quiet delivery (in an excellent display of dynamics), this album requires a lot of attention since it keeps itself low key, consisting mostly on lengthy brass notes and short electronic bursts, even more prominent here than in 4.

Download it here: [V0][FLAC]

Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[1998] Supersilent - 4

Follow up of the 1-3 album which compiled 3 CD's into one (half live, half studio), 4 is an entirely studio album, single CD, which combines the free jazz output displayed on their first album with strong electronic elements and even vocalizations (by Henriksen), making it very different from their preceding release.

Download it here: [V0][FLAC]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[1998] Supersilent - 1-3

About time I posted Supersilent over here... And I'll try to post all their discography, chronologically.
This is the first release via Rune Grammofon of the collective conformed by Arve Henriksen (Food, Christian Wallumrød Ensemble), Ståle Storløkken and Helge Sten (Deathprod, Merriwinkle). 3 CDs of their very first material, full of unpredictable structures and almost no common melodies through live improvisation; part of instrumentation used for this album (and the ones following next) can be tell apart, but mostly it's a mix of timbres barely recognizable, reminding most of what AMM did many decades ago in a similar vein.
This album alone is a classic of the band, and a perfect start in the modern conception of free improvisation.

Download it here: [V0: Part 1 Part 2][FLAC]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2008] Spunk - En Aldeles Forferdelig Sykdom

The darkest Spunk album, and pretty much in line with their preceding release Den øverste Toppen På en Blåmalt Flaggstang, it brings most of the bizarre elements of the group by straining as much as possible their instruments capabilities and delivering a somewhat offputting (yet entrancing) atmosphere. Their most cohesive work.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2009] The Low Frequency In Stereo - Futuro

Futuro is the noisiest, most daring effort of this norwegian band which has been likened to bands like Stereolab and Radiohead in the past (particularly the former), but in the reality is more than just that. Noisy riffs reminiscent of the no-wave era and heavy motorik drums akin to Neu! (along with the bold use of feedback) are the most obvious highlights here, but the combination of female and male vocals with a garage rock feel, and the campy, light sound of the trumpet (like in the song Solar System) makes this band really stand out as it deserves.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2007] Ultralyd - Conditions For A Piece of Music

The least accessible Ultralyd album, focusing more into free jazz and improvisation to a greater extent, compared to their latest efforts. It still has plenty of energetic moments in which the best of their noise-rock/jazz fusion is displayed, but it also focuses on their darkest aspects with guitar-oriented free improv, one half of the album. This is sort of a middle ground album, and it could please those already familiar with bands like MoHa!, since it swings that way at several parts with its dissonant noise-rock.

Download it here: [320][V0]

Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2001] Food - Organic & GM Food

Less out there than their late works, Organic & GM Food, while more conventional, is still worth mentioning due to how prominent the sax in here is, compared to their late works. Still amazing stuff to be had, particularly because of the songs Ian Ballamy (sax) composed for this album, aprticularly Chef's Special and Arve's Part (an obvious homage).

Download it here: [320][V0]


Sold out in Feral Records.

Yet another Ulver announcement: 'Wars Of The Roses' coming out in April

It turns out the wolf pack will be extra busy this year, judging by the two confirmed releases that will see the light in next months and the extensive touring they'll embark into, on several European locations. I still have yet to hear any words regarding their collab with Sunn O))) and cover albums like Psyche, but so far I can say it's all shaping up nicely for Ulver.

"With a long standing reputation for being unpredictable and unafraid of radical departures, the most subversive aspect this time is perhaps the band's increased accessibility; even touching on the polished sensibilities of pop and rock."

Personally I can't wait to hear how Daniel O'Sullivan's contributions will be like, although the crew gathered for this album is worth mentioning: Stian Westerhus (which I've mentioned before on this blog), Steve Noble (also a member of Æthenor), Alex Ward, John Fryer (well known producer involved with several remarkable bands) and Stephen Thrower from Coil, band that could've directly indirectly influenced Ulver's first dabblings into electronic and experimental music. "They all play important parts on the album, their instant instincts perfectly aligned with Ulver's composed compassion. The familiar baroque menagerie of piano, wood and wind sit alongside the machines and the ghosts within", says Ulver on their official statement.

Read the full press release here. 
Check  the album review here. Updated!

[1995] Ved Buens Ende - Written In Waters...

Combining the aesthetics and driving force behind the 2nd Wave of Norwegian BM with the innovation and progressive touch of the canterbury scene/rock in opposition of the 70's/80's, Ved Buens Ende singlehandedly inspired countless of progressive metal bands with an experimental edge that came decades earlier, with a style that isn't even overtly technical, but rather full of nuances and expressive methods that became their trademark sound.

One of the most important albums for me, it changed the way I perceived music as a whole, and even until today I consider it unique as it is.

Download it here: [320][V0]

Buy it directly from Candlelight Records here.

[2003] Sidsel Endresen & Christian Wallumrød & Helge Sten - Merriwinkle

Collaboration between one of the figureheads of the current norwegian jazz scene, Christian Wallumrød (Christian Wallumrød Ensemble, Close Erase), Sidsel Endresen and Helge Sten (Deathprod's real name) in a free improvisation album with no lyrics, no sheets, no prior arrangements, but full of rich melodies and complex, unpredictable changes.Sidsel Endresen does a great job improvising vocals on the spot, making it seem as if she had been reciting, when it was a case of stream of consciousness. Christian and Helge /Deathprod took care of the synths and electronic arrangements respectively, giving the album an spastic feel.

Download it here: [V0]

Buy it directly from Jazzland Recordings here.

[2007] Arve Henriksen - Strjon

This is the third release of the prominent norwegian musician Arve Henriksen (Food, Christian Wallumrød Ensemble), which drifts away a bit from the electronic influence of the debut and following album (Sakuteiki and Chiaroscuro respectively), and focus on the sultry trumpet sound he's known for. Very moody and spacious, it does what's expected from his regular works.

Download it here: [V0]

Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2009] Spunk - Kantarell

Latest Spunk album, is their most daring release so far, tuning down the vocal experimentation a notch and focusing on the brass instruments, straining the sounds at a vertiginous pace, and leaving a sense of tension through ever song. Sounds somewhat darker than their previous efforts, although the vocals retain a certain innocence that has become their own trademark sound.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2008] Runhild Gammelsæter - Amplicon

Runhild's (Thorr's Hammer, Khlyst, Sunn O)))) first solo album, following the theme of death and rebirth described in biology terms, and chaotic vocals breaking the opressing silence imposed on every song. Tore Ylvisaker (Ulver) remixed this album, comprised of captivating and menacing vocalizations in equal proportions.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Utech Records here.

[2002] Food - Veggie

This is the third album of another one of the many bands Arve Henriksen (Supersilent, Christian Wallumrød Ensemble) is part of. Food combines jazz with electronic elements, and the same way lots of bands from the norwegian scene, this is a true display of talent. The reason why I decided to review and post Veggie (their third album) instead of their debut was because of the motifs present in this one (specially in songs like Mushroom, one of my favorites), and thew way the electronic bits intervene with the recurrent improvised sections, which are brought from the background after every brass motif. Excellent group to get started with the norwegian nu-jazz scene.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.