FOCUS

SOFT FFOG are a four piece from Norway led by guitarist Tom Hasslan. He is the composer of all the music, and some may now him from his main band KROKOFANT. We have Trond Frones on bass from the band GRAND GENERAL. That album they released is a good reference to the music here, with the guitar led jazzy music on display there. We get keyboardist Vegard Lien Bjerkan who also plays with WIZRD. Same with drummer Axel Skalstad but not only with WIZRD he also drums with KROKOFANT.

And sadly I have to say the late Axel Skalstad as he passed away due to an accident a month shy of his 33rd birthday. This just happened on June 9th and the news has sent shock waves through the Norwegien Jazz community in particular, where Axel was a staple playing with pretty much everyone. I'm not sure if this album is the last he recorded but if it is I can't praise him enough for going out like this. I used to think of him as a John Marshall type who was powerful and more rock sounding than jazz.

But Axel's performance here is nothing short of astonishing. His jazz chops were alive and well my friends on this recording. He's very active but so much touch here. It was from the first listen what stood out to me. The album ends with "Oh Jimi" and after we hear the heaviest part of the album after 9 minutes, it settles to just drums only around 10 minutes in, then silence. You couldn't script that any better. Emotion for me, just hearing Axel, then it's over. It's really over.

I feel that this album is better than their debut. It's interesting the song titles like "Camel", "Pocus", "Focus" and "Oh Jimi", because they all relate to those three artists, with Pocus giving us no doubt to who Focus is. My least favourite track is "Focus" but the keyboard led final three minutes are great. The opener Camel contrasts two themes then the electric piano takes the lead after 5 1/2 minutes with some killer drum work. What a combination! And they run this to the end.

"Pocus" is interesting with those punchy and intricate sounds. I like that the bass has the spotlight for a change. The drumming and guitar are outstanding before 5 minutes to almost the end. Insane drum work to end this song. My favourite though is "Oh Jimi" and not just for the way it ends. I really like the keyboard led parts, and again the drumming is all over this. I like how it trips along before 6 minutes. Guitar leads after 8 minutes before it turns heavy and powerful ending with drums and nothing but.

Better than the debut in my opinion, but you have to wonder if this band will continue in light of Axel's passing.

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