Album: Björk - Fossora

★★★★ BJORK - FOSSORA The Icelandic singer carries a mother lode on her new album

The Icelandic singer carries a mother lode on her new album

Album opener “Atapos” was released as a single earlier in September, its sharply angular beats created by Björk and Indonesian duo Gabber Modus Operandi, one of whom has since had his contributions removed following #MeToo allegations. The song’s message is about growth towards connection. “To insist on absolute justice at all times / blocks connection” she sings, intoning “hope is a muscle” towards the end.

theartsdesk in Bergen: Nattjazz, Nutshell review - Norway makes the case that musical genres are obsolete

Where jazz, folk, metal, vocal pop and impressionism occupy the same space

Superless are playing live for the first time. Instead of being bottom of a bill, this quartet have a prime spot at Bergen’s Nattjazz festival. Given the eminence of who’s in the band, it makes sense. Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (bass), Eirik Hegdal (woodwind) and Øyvind Skarbø (drums) are Norwegian and American guitarist Jeff Parker is based in Los Angeles.

Album: Linnéa Talp - Arch of Motion

★★★ LINNEA TALP - ARCH OF MOTION Swedish minimalist induces introspection

Swedish minimalist induces introspection

Contrary to the title’s implication, there initially seems to be little movement in Arch of Motion. A note is held on an organ. Then another note comes in and is also held. Chords build up gradually. Maybe one or two ascending or descending notes come and go. And that seems to be it.

Albums of the Year 2021: Frida Hyvönen - Dream Of Independence

An exceptional Swedish release and the year's other finest albums

Frida Hyvönen’s UK profile isn’t as high as it is in her home country Sweden. Over here, what she gets up to is less apparent than the activities of some of her more heavily marketed fellow Swedes. Hence Dream Of Independence coming as a surprise, and the choice of it as the lead here.

Hedvig Mollestad, National Jazz Scene, Oslo review - watch out, there’s a storm about

★★★★★ HEDVIG MOLLESTAD, NATIONAL JAZZ SCENE, OSLO Norway’s jazz individualist launches new album with a bang

Norway’s jazz individualist launches her new album ‘Tempest Revisited’ with a bang

The opening moments don’t suggest what’s coming. A solo flute is followed by a few spoken phrases from a treated voice. What’s being said? It’s impossible to work it out. Is it a warning? An electric guitar’s strings are stroked with a cello bow. Then, other instruments enter the picture – shimmering electric piano, a trio of saxes, pitter-pat, raindrop percussion, throbbing bass guitar. About five minutes in, a pause arrives after which hard-edged spiralling guitar tops a swirling musical vortex. The storm has arrived. A squall is in the air, and on the stage.

Album: Electric Eye - Horizons

★★★ ELECTRIC EYE - HORIZONS Norwegian psych-rock with jazz and Krautrock leanings

Norwegian psych-rock with jazz and Krautrock leanings is a trip

Bergen’s Electric Eye’s pithy description of themselves is “psych-space-drone-rock from Norway.” They also say they “play droned out psych-rock inspired by the blues, India and the ever-more expanding universe.” Horizons is their fourth studio album.

Album: The Eivind Aarset 4-Tet - Phantasmagoria, or A Different Kind of Journey

★★★ THE EIVIND AARSET 4-TET - PHANTASMAGORIA, OR A DIFFERENT KIND OF JOURNEY Norwegian jazzers take on space rock

Norwegian jazzers take on space rock

Phantasmagoria, or A Different Kind of Journey instantly sets its controls for an excursion into the interstellar void between gaseous and solid objects. Opening cut “Intoxication” begins with lightly pulsing bass and a keyboard texture. Shimmering guitar floats over the top. Though more sparse and lacking vocals, it’s as if Pink Floyd’s “Us and Them” were performed by an earlier model of the band which had focussed on reducing performative grandeur as much as possible.

Reissue CDs Weekly: Dungen - Stadsvandringar

DUNGEN - STADSVANDRINGAR Swedish sonic adventurer’s second album resurfaces

The Swedish sonic adventurer’s second album resurfaces under the new title ‘II’

Dungen’s October 2005 appearance on Late Night With Conan O'Brien was incongruous. Here was a Swedish band on an independent label, singing in their native language, playing live on coast-to-coast mainstream US TV. The show’s host making a great play in his intro of trying to pronounce their name compounded the sense that this was a band of outsiders which had been mistakenly invited to the banquet.