Out on the 29th of August, 2025 on Action Jazz comes Jørgen Træen & Stein Urheim – Galant Galakse album, featuring a special guest, Henry Kaiser.
The collaboration between music producer/composer Jørgen Træen and guitarist/composer Stein Urheim goes back a long way. Over the years, Urheim has been brought in for several recordings where Træen has been the producer, and Træen has mixed and co-produced several of Urheim’s solo albums. Their first duo album Krympende klode (Hubro 2021), nevertheless came as a joyful and unexpected surprise to many. The album received rave reviews and was awarded the prestigious Edvard Prize (named after the Norwegian, legendary composer Edvard Grieg). The jury concluded its reasoning as follows: “It’s fun, it’s beautiful and it’s thought-provoking.”
The combination and marriage of two completely different sound worlds; of acoustic string instruments from around the world, and analog electronic music, has been experienced as the very core of the duo’s project. The shared love for the American instrument maker Harry Partch, and electronic music pioneers such as Raymond Scott and Delia Derbyshire was noticeable on Krympende klode.
On their new album, Galant galakse, the two musicians continue to combine several different sound worlds with astonishing effect. The album also shows a maturation of expression and an even greater willingness to stretch the formal elastic. More than conventional song structures, or classic compositional structures, we encounter a completely different musical narrative form on Galant galakse. This time it is a stream of fresh ideas, surprising breaks and original whims that dominate the course.
The duo proves with this album that their great strength lies in a virtuoso handling of an impressively imaginative musical kaleidoscope, and an ability to keep the listener interested and on their toes. The result is consciousness-expanding and remarkably captivating.
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album:
Jørgen Træen & Stein Urheim – Galant Galakse
formats: LP / DL
label: ACTION JAZZ
release date: 29th August 2025
catalogue no.: AJ0010
© ACTION JAZZ
℗JØRGEN TRÆEN & STEIN URHEIM 2025
Track list:
SIDE A PØNSKEPAUSE (17:18)
SIDE B URPUST (16:18)
Lineup:
Jørgen Træn:
modular and analog synthesizers, electronics, percussion, guitars, bass, cello, field recordings, vocal sounds, prepared piano, audio programming
Stein Urheim:
quitars, samples, electronics, field recordings, harmonicas, pocket trumpet, flutes, tamboura, bass, percussion, just intonation sine-tone generator, vocal sounds, prepared piano
Very special guest on Urpust:
Henry Kaiser: electric guitar