Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Leagus & Nordnorsk Jazzensemble — Flora Eallin
(Karisma Is It Jazz KAR250, 2023, CD / 2LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2023-04-28

Flora Eallin Cover art

I was unfamiliar with Leagus before hearing this album done in conjunction with the Nordnordsk Jazzensemble. Leagus is the duo of Herborg Rundberg (piano, vocals) and Kristian Svalestad Olstad (guitar, vocals), formed in 2013 at the Tromsø Conservatory. Apparently their work came to the attention of the eight-member jazz group, which commissioned Flora Eallin from them in 2021. This music for an extended group falls into the same realm as Jaga Jazzist, Beats & Pieces Big Band, Nick Bärtsch, and even Sigur Rós — combining jazz with electronic music and rock, mostly on the more subdued, serene end of the spectrum. The materials I received did not include musician credits beyond the composing duo’s piano, guitar, and vocals, but I hear upright bass, drums, percussion, a variety of saxophones, and electronic sounds that could come from almost anywhere. The twelve tracks cover a range of sounds and moods: subtle, atmospheric meditations; quirky free improvisations with electronic noises; tuneful songs almost in the mode of trip-hop; impressionistic vocal ballads; and energetic jazz workouts with mixed live and electronic percussion. The entire suite flows nicely when played as a whole, but the individual tracks also work on their own. I’m not super fond of the processed vocals on “Pripyat,” but aside from that, Flora Eallin is a wonderful experience from beginning to end. In my book, “Hyperion” is good enough on its own to justify the album’s existence — it’s a fun tune with a cool 5/4 riff and a slightly Middle Eastern melody where the sax parts fit together like puzzle pieces and it’s combined with a spy movie vibe that is ridiculously catchy. Anyone interested in jazz or post-rock that pushes boundaries should check out Leagus.

Filed under: New releases, 2023 releases

Related artist(s): Leagus

More info
http://leagus.bandcamp.com/album/flora-eallin

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.