huntsvilleEco, Arches & Eras is the second album from Huntsville, the Norwegian trio of Ivar Grydeland, Tonny Kluften and Ingar Zach. A wash of sound from various sources create a complicated backdrop for this record of improvisation. Tabla box is a defining feature under the cacophony of other instruments including guitar, banjo and other drums. There is a distinct South Asian influence. Polyrhythmic rythms give an undulating and ever moving quality to the tracks. Over the drums, sounds come and go in a stream of short melody. The effect is an always changing mood over one ground. There is a lot to hear and the concerted listener will find a plethora of sounds, influences and deeper essences. The record also works well as background music as a stream does a picnic. Second CD is a one track improvisation recorded at a concert they did with Nels Cline and Glenn Kotche from Wilco at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival in 2007. Here, a multitude of sounds are eventually moulded into one musical entity again held together with percussion. It builds ever so slowly, but once there, the wait is worthwhile. The track goes on and on for some time and looses its structure a couple of times with points of clarity between. The record is a testament to the creativity improvisation produces, however without editing, some of it is lost in the sections with less form. -- anna johnston
:: Huntsville/Eco, Arches & Eras - rune grammofon/cargo.
