(Modern Creative, Electronic, Chamber Jazz) [WEB] Arve Henriksen, Hilmar Jensson & Skúli Sverrisson (Skuli Sverrisson) - Saumur - 2016, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Arve Henriksen: Trumpet, voice, electronics
Hilmar Jensson: GuitarSkúli Sverrisson: Bass

Saumur
There is somewhat a spiritual and sacred atmosphere that meets the listener in the beginning of Saumur. Underneath a warm and soft carpet, weaved from Skúli Sverrisson’s bass and Hilmar Jensson’s guitar and above it, the otherworldly falsetto voice of Arve Henriksen. Music born from silence where nothing is decided beforehand; the music is allowed to evolve from the now and the moment. Improvisation that would hardly happen if it weren’t for the great trust that these three musicians have towards each other. Their antennas open for ideas and gestures, different sound-worlds melt together into one organic whole. Music without ego perhaps.
The sacred atmosphere is gradually taken over by different kind of emotions, melancholic tranquility, deep undercurrent and chaos. The broad palette takes us through a journey, down to the deep and in the end, to some kind of resolution or grace. The songs’ titles are based on a poem by musician Ólöf Arnalds that perhaps implicate the journey that the listener is invited to enter:
Came
Then
From beneath
Beauty
My
Open
Tender
Grace
Unprejudiced and curious approach towards music is one of the links that connect these three musicians. They’ve all been inspired by music from all over the world, ancient and new; music based in classical traditions of many continents along with experimental music of our time, noise, drone, electronica, post-rock, minimalism to name but few of the inspirations. Their sources come from all over and mold their strong, distinctive voices that can not be defined or labelled. Music based on deep knowledge, continuous practice and relentless search.
Bass, guitar, trumpet, voice, electronics. These are the instruments that create the sound world of Saumur. Instruments that possess endless possibilities of transformation and change, trumpet turns into a shakuhachi, guitar becomes a percussion, bass transforms into an African cora, the human voice reminds one of electronic sounds…The instruments become sources for all kinds of sounds where cliches are abandoned and the listener sometimes doesn’t know from where the sound flows. So he listens deeper, he has entered a playground where everything is possible.
Saumur was recorded in two days in Sundlaugin, Studio and on the third day the musicians sat down in order to choose moments and movements that would create the world that has become this record. With a long history of playing together within different context and bands they’ve dreamed of making a trio album for a long time. Finally the time has come.
Saumur was recorded by Birgir Jón Birgisson, edited and mixed by Skúli Sverrisson and mastered by Finnur Hákonarson. Drawings by Sara Riel, visual artist and design by Nicolas Kunysz. As with other albums of Mengi label, the outer and inner content make one, unseparable whole where the visuals give the music deeper meaning.
Saumur will be released by Mengi in July, 2016. We do hope this precious album will be enjoyed by many.