HEDVIG MOLLESTAD: EKHIDNA

This is quite a brillant mixed bag of progressive jazz fusion and heavy rock. Not a mass product that can be found on every corner, you bet. Sounds partially close to the likes of Elephant9, and yes, their drummer Torstein Lofthus is involved in the recordings too. Coming out of Norway Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen is a prolific jazz guitarist and music composer, no doubt. And then she has Marte Eberson and Erlend Slettevoll on her side, both keyboards and synths, as well as substituting the bass guitar to be expected. Furthermore Ole Mofjell is dealing with some percussion instruments. And finally the talent of Susan Santos Silva, imported from Portugal, who has an impressive contribution with her trumpet moreover.

It is said Hedvig is putting some mind games into practice here, which originally came up at the Norwegian Vossajazz Festival. That must have been a great inspiration. Roundabout fourty minutes of the recordings, which took place at the beginning of 2020, have got on 'Ekhidna'. The Terje Rypdal reminiscent deep toned trumpet strikes on the short opener No Friends But The Mountains. A remarkable heavy blues rock riff is leading into the next multi-varied song A Stone's Throw. A tour de force, switching to a jazzy ambiance again and again, due to fine electric piano input, yeah, on both channels. And Lofthus of course, who is serving a lively drum performance.

Partially gliding into some freestyled jamming the more extended Antilone shows a wonderful percussion drive. My favourite so far, powerful, provided with great dynamic. And then, due to Slightly Lighter, corresponding to the song title, the flow needs a switch to a charming relaxed experience after that. The diversified title track afterwards lives from the excellent interaction between the musicians. Not solely Susan Santos Silva has taken the opportunity to freak out a bit in between. One more left, One Leaf Left finally sees them on a beautiful patient and melodic direction, though ending with a strong and heavy expression nevertheless. What a superb album, close to a masterpiece, 4.5 stars.