Christian Wallumrød Ensemble

Seeking symmetry between acoustic and electronic sonic adaptation Norwegian keyboardist Christian Wallumrød composed the seven pieces here that shift the sound ratio and emphasis throughout. Although as concerned with improvisation as notation, Wallumrød, known for his membership in the French-Norwegian Dans Les Arbes band, has narrowed the parameters so that the five musicians function as a concentrated ensemble, with individual timbres shaded to fit a group sound. Additionally each player – reedist Espen Reinertsen, trumpeter Eivind Lønnin, percussionist Per Oddvar Johansen, cellist Tove Törngren Brun and himself – use electronic processing to augment their sounds.

Unrolling at nearly twice the length of any other track, “El Johnton” is Many’s obvious hub. Consisting of three distinct sequences, the first matches a flowery piano introduction and pointillist reed timbres with an extended brass fanfare. Soon flanging conveyer-belt-like slaps reposition the exposition towards a more pronounced beat, propelled as much by field-recording noises and electronic stop-and-go buzzes as resonation from claves and plastic idiophones. The final motif brings forward a moody narrative summation created by harmonizing thumping drum backbeat, unison horn lines and a folkish piano pulse.

Limited by duration, most of the other pieces accentuate one side of Wallumrød’s paradigm over the other. For instance the brief “Danszaal” or “dance hall” emphasizes a thudding drum beat and the extended “50/80” suggests formalized New music with billowing string glissandi, contorted by pressurized cello scrubs with keyboard underpinning that alternate from piano clinks to harmonium tremors. Other tracks are pushed forward by horn vamps or thickened computer processing that in some cases mean the narratives drone rather than swing. However the true zenith of his conception occurs during those sequences on several tunes where the sonic meld reaches such a level of association that it’s impossible to identify the sound source.

Compelling in its periodic realization of Wallumrød’s thesis, if the tracks were a bit more liberated and fallible, the CD may be have easier to feel affection for rather than just admiration.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Oh gorge 2. 50/80 3. Danszaal 4. Abysm 5. Staccotta 6. El Johnton 7. Dialect

Personnel: Eivind Lønning (trumpet, electronics); Espen Reinertsen (soprano saxophone, recorder, electronics); Christian Wallumrød (piano, harmonium, electronics); Tove Törngren Brun (cello, electronics) and Per Oddvar Johansen ( drums, vibraphone, electronics)