Jazz Press by Greg Drygala
✕
  • Back to GPoint-Audio
  • All That Jazz
  • Music Reviews
    • English
    • Español
    • Русский
  • Jazz Foto
  • About me

Mats Eilertsen – Reveries and Revelations (released on 6th of August 2019) Label: Hubro, CD 2606

Posted On 1st November 2019 By grzech In Music Reviews /  

 

Mat’s latest so-called solo recording with a “tad” of contribution from good musician friends and frequent collaborators is quite unique for many reasons, It shows a different sort of imagination involved into production. And production is a key word here as none of the musicians who contributed into it never met, or had a chance to play, rehearse or record it together. It all happened in the virtual space and then has been edited later.

He always composes with the band in mind, making music with the performer he would like it to be played by, therefore here the similar process must have taken place upfront to the sample’s expedition. With that only difference that he left here was complete freedom to add whatever they feel would fit. It then goes down to the trust and understanding of long time partners, their style and already having in mind what to expect from them, plus a little space to gamble, as they are star class improvisers, so their response can be as random as a phone call and completely dependent on the moment and mood, Couldn’t be any better if you ask me.

Opening Nighride and further Handanger are mixed with Geir Sundstøls contribution, on which he plays the guitars and banjo. First is a nicely extended tissue with an oriental harmony and contemplative mood. Second, on which Mats also plays organs is even more cinematic. Dobro sounds with delayed bluesy sound mixed with folk touch of banjo notes are bringing similar feeling to me as Cooder’s Paris-Texas famous soundtrack. But here with synthetized flute like lines it describes the landscape matching more Mongolian Tundra or possibly the movie set for Herbert’s Dune.

In comparison the track like Signal, Venus and Siberian Sorrow, all mixed with rhythmic patterns and samples created by Thomas Strønen are all bringing strong feeling of fear and claustrophobia. Something dangerous hiding around. Signal, with its defragmented rhythmic rubatoes, sounding like something falling apart and with insisting, harmonium made, repetitive bass riff the feeling of encirclement and hopelessness is strong and dominant. Venus goes even further and takes listener into despair landscape of Tarkovsky’s Stalker, where a subsonic bass in the style of Hans Zimmer is used and a wonderfully executed, super low octave Double bass Arcos hold the listener inside bubble wrap, where only a thin diaphragm film protects the listener from unavoidable drama. Siberian Sorrow, with its organs played light motive gently blended with played in upper registers bass arcos, catches up the mood of the Signal, but it sounds more organic and woodier on the percussive side as well as goes deeper that way when dialoguing with the arch. The feeling is most floaty and eternal. Like a hot air fussiness over the desert sands, or like cosmic space, endlessly open for the perpetual drifting of a lost spaceship.

Closing Appreciate, with Arve Henricksen’s trumpet airy weaven into the harmonium chords, makes a beautifully melodic and heart catching Outro, as might be expected from this cosmic traveller and nicely balances entire recording bringing more light and optimism into the mix.

This is such a great recording that it is difficult to pick up what’s best. All tracks are equally brilliant, but to me the Bouvet Blues, which is a clear trip inside Mats’ Art of double bass playing, comes as a winnerand  most charming part.

Tags:
#hubroGreg Drygala JazzpressMats Eilertsen
[ 8th of November release via Long Song Records: Satoko Fujii & Joe Fonda - FOUR ]
[ November the 8th release on Endectomorph Music: Kevin Sun - The Sustain of Memory ]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Recent Posts

  • [ June the 20th, 2025 release on Hout Records: Daniel Casares – 1971 ] 16th June 2025
  • [ June the 20th, 2025 release – Hard Bop Messengers play Grateful Dead – Live at Old Rock House ] 16th June 2025
  • [ June the 20th, 2025 release on TAO Forms: Ivo Perelman with Matthew Shipp String Trio – Armageddon Flower ] 15th June 2025
  • [ June the 20th, 2025 release on Fresh Sound New Talent: Hillai Govreen – Every Other Now ] 13th June 2025
  • [ June the 13th, 2025 via Hubro Records: Beiggja – Morning ] 11th June 2025

Links

International team of music photographers
Music Photographers Collective by Encore Seven

Traumton
Traumton

Hubro
Hubro

Thanatosis
Thanatosis

Turtle Bay Records
Turtle Bay

Ramble Records
Ramble Records

Kilogram Records
Kilogram Records

Fenomedia
Fenomedia

ForTune
ForTune

Not Two Records
Not Two Records

Barefoot Records
Barefoot Records

FrenchRecordCompany
frenchrecordcompany
(c) All rights reserved
  • Contact
  • GPoint Audio