LUGGUMT

This Finnish-Norwegian trio (Raoul Björkenheim on guitar, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten on bass & electronics and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums) offers edgy and fiery Avant-Prog seemingly emphasizing on the technical musical mastership, for example the dozen notes per second kind of sonic masturbation. This particular prog style has always been the one I get awfully tired of in a short time. But already listening to the 12½-minute opening track reveals a great level of originality and a vast spectre of nuances. For the electric guitar I occasionally get some associations to the legendary Norwegian, Terje Rypdal (which I however prefer of these two; Björkenheim's vocabulary is edgier and darker, often using distorted sounds). The next, shorter track takes a completely different path: filling the silence with very introspective and experimental sounds in a slow, meditative manner. It manages to be quite interesting if you have patience enough.

The third one stands clearly on the (free) jazz territory instead of rock; the double bass and guitar both play bubbling note-streams being equally in the spotlight, and the percussion favours hi-hat. The intensity, especially for drumwork and the tormented guitar, increases next. And after that a more meditative approach again. This album is interesting for that open-minded, never-know-where-they-go- next kind of personality. Recommended for jazzy Avant Prog diggers who appreciate also meditative nuances. Others may have it hard to get into this very non-melodic and improvisation-oriented music.