THE TRONOSONIC EXPERIENCE
Losen LOS174-2
Ole Jorgen Bardal: saxophones; Ivar Loe Bjornstand: drums; Oyvind Nypan: guitars; Per Harald Ottesen: bass.
Recorded December 19th – 21st 2017 Ocean Sound Recordings, Giske, Norway
This a set recorded live and very much in your face. Nypan, having played quite a gentle guitar in his ‘Stereotomy’ album, unleases a full Prog Rock chord-monster. The pairing of heavy guitar and blustering sax really drives these pieces along. On the opening two tracks, there are times when the solidity of the riffs gives little space for the band to develop, particularly as the bass and drums continue to plough a deep and heavy rock furrow. However, these are not tracks full of subtleties and there are some sterling sax solos by Bardal, who blows for all he is worth on ‘Maelstrom’ (track 2).
Just when you thought that this was a one-dimensional Prog excursion, ‘No country for young men’ (track 3) and ‘Light as a feather, heavy as a lead balloon’ (track 4) turns back to the Americana of the ‘Stereotomy’ set, and Nypan and Bardal plays delicate waltzes, with Nypan exploring the twangy side of his guitar playing. I found these more laid back pieces easier to listen to, not just because they had a more varied change of rhythm but also because the guitar and sax felt as if they had more individual voices. Nypan’s soloing on ‘The Crossing’ (track 5) was high calibre rock bluster, but I didn’t feel that this was his voice – even though he sounds like he’s having a blast. Switching easily between heavy rhythms and gentler moods, the remaining tracks show a band at ease with different musical styles but keeping their feet firmly in the ‘rock’ camp and continually looking to push the volume up to 11.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
Losen LOS174-2
Ole Jorgen Bardal: saxophones; Ivar Loe Bjornstand: drums; Oyvind Nypan: guitars; Per Harald Ottesen: bass.
Recorded December 19th – 21st 2017 Ocean Sound Recordings, Giske, Norway
This a set recorded live and very much in your face. Nypan, having played quite a gentle guitar in his ‘Stereotomy’ album, unleases a full Prog Rock chord-monster. The pairing of heavy guitar and blustering sax really drives these pieces along. On the opening two tracks, there are times when the solidity of the riffs gives little space for the band to develop, particularly as the bass and drums continue to plough a deep and heavy rock furrow. However, these are not tracks full of subtleties and there are some sterling sax solos by Bardal, who blows for all he is worth on ‘Maelstrom’ (track 2).
Just when you thought that this was a one-dimensional Prog excursion, ‘No country for young men’ (track 3) and ‘Light as a feather, heavy as a lead balloon’ (track 4) turns back to the Americana of the ‘Stereotomy’ set, and Nypan and Bardal plays delicate waltzes, with Nypan exploring the twangy side of his guitar playing. I found these more laid back pieces easier to listen to, not just because they had a more varied change of rhythm but also because the guitar and sax felt as if they had more individual voices. Nypan’s soloing on ‘The Crossing’ (track 5) was high calibre rock bluster, but I didn’t feel that this was his voice – even though he sounds like he’s having a blast. Switching easily between heavy rhythms and gentler moods, the remaining tracks show a band at ease with different musical styles but keeping their feet firmly in the ‘rock’ camp and continually looking to push the volume up to 11.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
