Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The Tronosonic Experience: The Tronosonic Experience

13

The Tronosonic Experience: The Tronosonic Experience

By

Sign in to view read count
The Tronosonic Experience: The Tronosonic Experience
Norwegian quartet The Tronosonic Experience describes the music on their debut as "punk-jazz-avant-rock," which about covers it. Opener "Die Streif" comes storming in with a heavy bass line and an emphasis on the rock end of the spectrum, including blazing distorted guitar from Oyvind Nypan. It shows a completely different side of his playing from his recent modern jazz date Stereotomic (Losen Records, 2017).

"Maelstrom" (the only song composed collectively instead of by bassist Per Harald Ottesen) develops more gradually—but it builds to outside, energy playing from saxophonist Ole Jørgan Bardal and more rock (this time with wah-wah pedal) from Nypan. Quieter, more deliberate tunes like "No Country for Young Men" and "Light as a Feather, Heavy as a Lead Balloon" place more focus on Bardal's saxophone playing, while also giving Nypan a space for more reflective guitar work.

The trio introduction to "A Quiet Flame" could be an ECM track (perhaps by Jakob Bro or Bill Frisell): things heat up a bit with the saxophone entry, but the piece remains melody-driven, even during the fiery simultaneous guitar and saxophone solos. The closer "Catching The Nile Perch" again finds the band blending rock and jazz, with drummer Iver Loe Bjørnstad kicking things along in partnership with Ottersen's bass. The entire album is a wonderful blast of energy, reminiscent of some of fellow Norwegian Terje Rypdal's most direct ECM albums.

Track Listing

1 Dier Streif 2 Maelstrom 3 No Country for Young Men 4 Light as a Feather, Heavy as a Lead Balloon 5 The Crossing 6 A Quiet Flame 7 Catching The Nile Perch

Personnel

Ole Jørgan Bardal: saxophones; Øyvind Nypan: guitars; Per Harald Ottesen: bass; Iver Loe Bjørnstad: drums

Album information

Title: The Tronosonic Experience | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Losen Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.