NILS PETTER MOLVÆR — Khmer (review)

NILS PETTER MOLVÆR — Khmer album cover Album · 1997 · Nu Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
Nils Petter Molvaer's debut is similar to other freshman efforts from his chosen nu jazz/acid jazz and post-punk/post-DJ jazz genre. Hampered by a lack of technology and resources, Molvaer is big on ascetics and ideas and manages to put together a very nice mellow psychedelic groove based jazz album without all the expensive toys it usually takes to make music like this. This is also far from your typical paint-by-numbers trip hop wallpaper muzak. Molvaer's melodies and solos are heartfelt and deep, channeling the mysterious passion of late 60s Miles without sounding like faux copies. North European nu jazz has often been described as a synthesis of Jon Hassell's 4th world experiments, Miles' ethereal productions and modern psychedelic trip-hop/acid jazz. If that is so, than those elements describe this album to a T. To that thumbnail description I would also add that Molvaer's European ascetic brings to this album an almost goth like somberness that sometimes drifts into post-punk industrial eeriness, a sound that may seem on the cold side for those who like the kinetic urban sound of acid jazz from the states and elsewhere.

On the negative side, this album's lack of resources and technology reveal themselves in the simplistic drum loops used throughout the album. Most of the loops used are edited at four beats and are used without any variations, breaks or effects. These short looped beats sound dated by today's standards and were probably already a little dated when this album came out in 1997. The overall sound of this album reminds me of early efforts by fellow psychedelic groove meisters Jah Wobble and Bill Laswell, they too were big on ideas but short on cash and technology at first.

On the plus side Molvaer's playing and arrangements are excellent as is the playing of the various psychedelic guitarists who contribute. This CD is highly recommended for fans of psychedelic nu jazz.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Cecil Taylor Unit : Live At Fat Tuesdays, February 9, 1980 First Visit Avant-Garde Jazz
CECIL TAYLOR
Buy this album from MMA partners
Solo Bern 1984 - First Visit Avant-Garde Jazz
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Bruno Parrinha & Johannes von Buttlar : Whispers and Reveries Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Nuno Torres & Johannes von Buttlar : Cosmic Collision Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Carlos Bechegas, João Madeira & Monsieur Trinité : Free to Open Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Songs My Mom Liked EPK - Anthony Branker
ANTHONY BRANKER
js· 17 hours ago
“INFLUENCES” by Jared Hall, trumpeter & composer
JARED HALL
js· 17 hours ago
Jean-Pierre (feat. Darryl Jones)
BILL EVANS (SAX)
snobb· 1 day ago
Magic Box
CHRISTOPHE MARGUET
snobb· 1 day ago
The Peacocks
ANTOINE DRYE
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed