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Fra Det Onde — Smilet er en flyktig tilstand
(El Paraiso EPR083, 2026, LP)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2026-08-07

Smilet er en flyktig tilstand Cover art

The band’s name translates roughly to “From Evil,” and while they’ve been around since at least 2020, when they released a six-song 12-inch 45RPM, Smilet er en flyktig tilstand (The Smile Is a Fleeting State) is the group’s first full length LP, containing three tracks on side A and four on side B, but each side is actually a single long continuum of sound with only one short gap on B. This is the essence of what free jazz meets electronics meets full-on chaos at its finest sounds like, and this quartet shines with brilliance. There’s even some subtle spoken word parts (courtesy of guest Zabina Davan Elfang) at various junctures buried in all the chaotic mayhem, though mostly on side B. So who are these guys? Out front on the trumpet is Erik Kimestad, whose manic omnipresence lights up every track herein; that rolling thunderous bottom end is courtesy of bassist Rune Neergaard (Exoterm, Bushman’s Revenge) and drummer Olaf Olsen (Needlepoint, Motorpsycho, Bigbang and others), and together they are like a runaway train on a downhill track, seemingly always ready to jump the rails, but somehow magically holding it all together. Lastly there is Emil Nikolaisen, the sonic wizard of the group, known for his work as a noise rock pioneer in Serena Maneesh, a collaborative album with Todd Rundgren, and a member of Brian Jonestown Massacre; here he contributes Farfisa organ and raw weird electronics to the performance, and is also responsible for the album’s mix, expanding their collective vision outward into bold new  horizons. There’s a lot going on here and there’s no quick way into the temple, one needs to just immerse and flow with it, over and over, and those repeat listens will reward over time, revealing the raw energy, psychedelic kaleidoscopy, and intrepid vision of these brilliant musicians. Comparisons? As I listen I am sometimes reminded of classic Sun Ra, but without all of the goofy dialog and pretense. Fra Det Onde is living proof that free jazz, psychedelic sounds, and an aggressive musical posture can all coexist in the same work.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Fra Det Onde

More info
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nywUZFbkKoU
http://elparaisorecords.com/product/fra-det-onde-smilet-er-en-flyktig-tilstand/

 

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