DESCENDRE

This record contains a mix of floating keyboards and an overdose of free jazz drums parts. Often experimental, there are TONS of drums parts and improvised-like brass sounds. Obviously, Rypdal's very plaintive electric guitar is omnipresent. For those who have no idea about Rypdal's guitar sound, Jeff Beck's one is a valid comparison. Mostly, the keyboards would fit very well on Pat Metheny's Wichita Falls album.The overall tracks are not very catchy.

On side one, the very melancholic "Avskjed" consists in a continuous stream of loudly floating organ, with a solemn trumpet arrangement a la Mark Isham. The rather experimental "Circles" has an interesting contrast between dreamy & atmospheric keyboards and nervous & scattered drums; the wah-wah horns sounds a la Weather Report give a typical jazzy character to this track. The cold echoed piano notes on "Descendre" are slightly scary; the beautiful & mellow wind instrument arrangements are a real surprise!

On side 2, "Innseiling" is full of urban floating keyboards and muted melodic trumpet a la Mark Isham; Rypdal's unique guitar even slightly sounds like Steve Hillage's one. "Men of Mystery" contains an overdose of very scattered drums parts. My favorite track is "Speil": a VERY relaxing piece full of smooth & floating keyboards textures that gradually increase in intensity, and then calm down again. The memorable trumpet parts are, again, Isham-esque. Gentle cymbals strokes make the hypnotic rhythm and Rypdal's insistent & plaintive guitar seems very inspired from Jeff Beck.