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Reviews

Bjørn Riis — Lifandi
(Karisma KAR321, 2026, CD / LP / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2026-07-13

Lifandi Cover art

Lifandi was recorded on Riis’ 2025 European tour, on the very day Ace Frehley passed away, a detail that matters more than it first appears. Riis dedicates the performance to Ace, and you can feel that sense of personal stakes running through the entire set. This isn’t just a live document; it’s a moment captured under emotional pressure, and it gives the music an edge that studio recordings rarely sustain. The setlist is concise but deliberate: “Gone,” “Getaway,” “Where Are You Now,” and the epic “Fimbulvinter.” Across these four tracks, Riis avoids simple reproduction. As I’ve noted in my previous Exposé reviews, his studio work often leans into carefully layered atmospheres and controlled emotional arcs. Here, those same compositions are opened up, expanded, pushed harder, and occasionally torn at the seams. The result is looser, more volatile, and ultimately more immediate. The band is locked in. Arild Brøter absolutely slaughters behind the kit, driving the material forward with a physicality that reshapes the rhythmic foundation. Øystein Sootholtet’s bass doesn’t just support, it propels, adding muscle and momentum. Simen Valldal Johannessen’s keyboards stay deliberately understated, but fill the space with texture in a way that recalls classic live recordings without sacrificing modern clarity. And Riis himself? He’s less restrained here, ripping into chords and phrases with a rawness that contrasts his more measured studio persona. Lifandi may only run about a half hour, but it lands with surprising weight. It’s not just a supplement to his catalog, it’s a necessary counterbalance.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Bjørn Riis, Arild Brøter

More info
http://bjornriis.bandcamp.com/album/lifandi

 

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