MOSKUS — Mestertyven (review)

MOSKUS — Mestertyven album cover Album · 2014 · Avant-Garde Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
snobb
Moskus is a young Norwegian trio, led by pianist Anja Lauvdal. They debuted two years ago with a well prepared chamber jazz release (it was nominated for two Norwegian Grammies). Instead of continuing in this formula that had proved profitable for fellow Europeans, EST, they instead have decided to change things up with a fully improvised second album, Mestertyven(Master Thief).

The grand piano is gone for an upright one, and the well equipped recording studio has been exchanged for a 17th century small wooden village church. No material was prepared for this recording, but lots of ideas and blueprints were already tested during their two years of improvising together.

The result is almost beautiful music that is full of space that is surprisingly tuneful, well-framed and at the same time full of light, fresh air and optimism. Almost every composition contains some traces of familiar traditions, from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago's "small instruments" sounds, to old movie tape piano tunes, but absolutely nothing comes across like nostalgia here. Angular, almost ritual rhythms combine with percussive piano buildups into a strange atmosphere. Very often this trio's music doesn't sound like jazz at all. Free-form but listener-friendly compositions are almost like modern catchy songs, tribal rhythms are Zen and rock aesthetics two in one, Ran Blake style piano is like a modern "film noir" soundtrack.

Well done music, young,fresh and modern. I am already curious what will come next.
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

The Vinny Golia Quintet 2024 : Almasty Avant-Garde Jazz
VINNY GOLIA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Anaconga RnB
CITRUS SUN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Shoot For The Moon Pop/Art Song/Folk
DAVINA AND THE VAGABONDS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Timeless Post-Fusion Contemporary
DAVID BENOIT
Buy this album from MMA partners
Nothing Pop/Art Song/Folk
LOUIS COLE
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Songs My Mom Liked EPK - Anthony Branker
ANTHONY BRANKER
js· 3 hours ago
“INFLUENCES” by Jared Hall, trumpeter & composer
JARED HALL
js· 3 hours ago
Jean-Pierre (feat. Darryl Jones)
BILL EVANS (SAX)
snobb· 14 hours ago
Magic Box
CHRISTOPHE MARGUET
snobb· 15 hours ago
The Peacocks
ANTOINE DRYE
js· 20 hours 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