{"title":"Elephant9","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"catching-fire","title":"Catching Fire","description":"\u003cp\u003eFive years ago, Elephant9 released two double live albums, \u003ci\u003ePsychedelic Backfire I\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eII\u003c\/i\u003e, the latter with guest guitarist Reine Fiske, whose favourite guitarist happened to be Terje Rypdal. With both albums out of print, \u003ci\u003eCatching Fire\u003c\/i\u003e is a most welcome addition to their discography. Recorded at a remarkable concert from 2017 in Oslo, Rypdal would turn 70 later in the year. David Fricke makes some interesting references to classic live albums in his liner notes, and we would like to add King Crimson´s underrated USA and numerous Pink Floyd 1970 live bootlegs into the equation, sharing the common energy level and sense of untamed intensity. That said, there are also stretches of calm at play here, especially in the 22-minute opener where Rypdal introduces himself with some trademark, glacier melodic lines. Rypdal is on fire throughout, adding some fierce rhythm work and abstract acrobatics from his toolbox. Ståle and Terje are sometimes so interlocked that it´s difficult to tell them apart. This is partly because the album is mixed to get a sense of being at the concert, by not overly trying to separate them, but primarily due to a common understanding stemming from Ståle being the guitarist´s “right hand” both in the studio and on stage for close to 30 years. Torstein and Nikolai is the most solid of rhythm sections, a well-oiled engine, finesse and power combined. Elephant9 established their reputation as a live powerhouse well before their album debut in 2008 and have since released six more studio albums as well as the live albums from 2019. Terje Rypdal´s musical history dates back to the early sixties as a teenage member of The Vanguards, and The Dream a few years later. His main body of work is with ECM, first as a member of Jan Garbarek Quartet (Afric Pepperbird, 1970) and with his first solo album Terje Rypdal (1971), all in all counting some 30 releases up to Conspiracy (2020).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rune Grammofon","offers":[{"title":"Black CD","offer_id":50398885577035,"sku":"2222480","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50399284986187,"sku":"2222481","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/RLP3236_1024x1024_ab57cb56_thumbnail_4096.webp?v=1726499269"},{"product_id":"mythical-river","title":"Mythical River","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStåle Storløkken\u003c\/strong\u003e – Fender Rhodes, Hammond L100, Minimoog, Mellotron, grand piano, celeste, Continuum. \u003cstrong\u003eNikolai Hængsle\u003c\/strong\u003e – Electric bass. \u003cstrong\u003eTorstein Lofthus\u003c\/strong\u003e – Drums, percussion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a solid run of five studio albums and two double live albums, \u003cem\u003ePsychedelic Backfire I\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eII\u003c\/em\u003e (both 2019), Elephant9 had taken their groovy mix of high energy rock and power jazz as far as they could. In this respect their previous album \u003cem\u003eArrival of The New Elders\u003c\/em\u003e (2021) came as a welcome and most timely addition to their recorded output.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMore varied, mature and reflective, they were as groovy as ever, but more structured and less jam oriented, earning them a 9\/10 review in Uncut and a spot in their albums of the year list, noting their telepathic communion and concluding with “this is an Elephant9 you'll never forget”. Jazzwise, Shindig, Prog, Electronic Sound, The Quietus and several others followed in the same fashion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMythical River\u003c\/em\u003e is moulded much in the same way and a natural follow-up, with six stellar new compositions by keyboard maestro Ståle Storløkken, bookended by two short cosmic snippets. From the hypnotic and magical to the razor sharp and polyrhythmic, this is yet another strong group effort from a trio on top of their game.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eComparisons have been made with bands dating as far back as the sixties, but with \u003cem\u003eArrival of The New Elders\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eMythical River\u003c\/em\u003e, Elephant9 appear as a thoroughly contemporary, timeless and even futuristic sounding band. \u003cem\u003eMythical River\u003c\/em\u003e was recorded and mixed by previous Dungen producer Mattias Glavå.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStåle started his musical journey in Veslefrekk with Jarle Vespestad and Arve Henriksen in the 90s, soon morphing into Supersilent with Helge Sten on board. He's also a member of Hedvig Mollestad Weejuns, Møster! and Humcrush, and have collaborated with a number of artists, most notably Motorpsycho. Nikolai is also a member of Bigbang, Needlepoint and Band of Gold and have appeared on a couple of hundred records. The same goes for Torstein, an associate member of numerous bands ranging from pop and soul to free jazz. But Elephant9 has always been their special baby.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rune Grammofon","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50405291622731,"sku":"2188102","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Clear LP","offer_id":50405293982027,"sku":"2188108","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50405295259979,"sku":"2188109","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/elephant9_mythical_river_b999b4c3_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726575316"},{"product_id":"arrival-of-the-new-elders","title":"Arrival Of The New Elders","description":"\u003cp\u003eAfter a solid run of five studio albums and 2019´s two double live albums, \u003ci\u003ePsychedelic Backfire I and II\u003c\/i\u003e, Elephant9 had taken their mix of high energy rock and power jazz as far as they could. In this respect Arrival Of The New Elders comes as a welcome and most timely addition to their recorded output. More varied, mature and reflective, don´t let the ironic title mislead you, they are as wild as ever, but more structured and less jam oriented with the longest track clocking in around the seven minute mark (rather short, by their standards). Having built a solid live reputation even before their brilliant 2008 debut \u003ci\u003eDodovoodoo\u003c\/i\u003e, the trio boasts what is probably the strongest rhythm section in Norway, complemented with keyboard magician extraordinaire, the one and only Ståle Storløkken. And boy, does he excel himself on this album, notably with more focus on the Rhodes than before. That said, this is nothing if not another strong group effort from what has been a very tight unit straight from the outset. Seven brand new compositions from Storløkken and one from Hængsle make way for what we consider to be their finest and most cohesive album to date.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rune Grammofon","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50417039409483,"sku":"1112177","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50417038950731,"sku":"1112176","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/659a81de-98f3-4d99-86ad-e11849061d1b_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726714639"},{"product_id":"greatest-show-on-earth","title":"Greatest Show On Earth","description":"\u003cp\u003eOn this, their fifth studio album - the last two included Swedish guitarist Reine Fiske - Elephant9 are back to the core trio of their first two albums; Stale Storløkken, Nikolai Hængsle and Torstein Lofthus, three of Norway ́s finest musicians. Both albums with Reine - \u003ci\u003eAtlantis\u003c\/i\u003e (2012) and \u003ci\u003eSilver Mountain\u003c\/i\u003e (2015) - were double efforts with ample room to stretch out, explore and improvise, with \u003ci\u003eSilver Mountain\u003c\/i\u003e containing five tracks between 10 and 22 minutes. \u003ci\u003eThe Greatest Show On Earth\u003c\/i\u003e displays some truly astonishing playing and is a more dynamic, structured and focused album with all tracks clocking in around the six minute mark. It ́s also very much a trio effort where all members are equal, and not only a vehicle for a soloist. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLP - With CD Version.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCD - Housed in Digi Fold Out Sleeve.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rune Grammofon","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50444244353355,"sku":"1026816","price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50444245762379,"sku":"1026817","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/4cbc2f37-e1e2-40dc-9800-dc907851c921_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727026229"},{"product_id":"dodo-voodoo","title":"Dodo Voodoo","description":"\u003cp\u003ehammond organ led heavy groove-tastic album that like miles davies doing krautrock or mars volta sacking the singer and getting holy fuck on the mix. absolutely stunning. already a firm live favourite on the norwegian scene for a couple of years due to a handful of highly energetic and very enthusiastically received concerts, the trio of stale storlokken (supersilent, humcrush), nikolai eilertsen (the national bank) and torstein lofthus (shining) on drums finally deliver they debut album. stale storlokken is widely considered to be the most inventive and musically creative keyboard player to spring out of the norwegian jazz scene, his playing with supersilent, humcrush, terje rypdal, nils petter molvaer and countless others being firm testament to this. on 'dodo voodoo' he mostly concentrates on organ and electric piano, giving the album a late sixtees, early seventees feel with traces of rock, jazz, prog and psychedelia. this, in combination with a young rhythm section that comes mostly with a rock background, gives it a fresh and contemporary edge. you need this album in your life....seriously. on rune grammofon.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50491076313419,"sku":"300750","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/cdefbbd0-90fb-446c-9ce5-d62f86c8c89d_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727681932"},{"product_id":"walk-the-nile","title":"Walk The Nile","description":"\u003cp\u003e'dodovoodoo' the debut from this hammond-driven powertrio, received excellent international reviews upon it's release in 2008. already a firm favourite on the norwegian and european live scene due to top notch musicianship, a high energy level and very enthusiastically received concerts, they once again deliver the goods on record with 'walk the nile'. sporting five originals from storlokken and one from eilertsen, this is a general improvement on the debut, as good as that one was. again being an all analog recording co-produced by christian engfelt at oslo's grand sport studios it has a gorgeous, organic late sixties, early seventees feel combining elements from rock, jazz, psychedelia, funk and prog. stale storlokken is widely considered to be the most inventive and musically creative keyboard player to spring out of the fertile norwegian jazz scene, his playing with supersilent, humcrush, terje rypdal, nils petter molvar and countless others being firm testament to this. nikolai eilertsen was first known to the norwegian public through his playing with popular rock group big bang and later chart topping pop group the national bank.torstein lofthus is an extremely versatile drummer who has done a lot of session work as well as playing in jazz, soul and rock bands, most notably shining.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50491077001547,"sku":"324086","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50491078574411,"sku":"324084","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/bb877e9e-bf3b-4e7e-a006-35dae7a58736_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727681971"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/collections\/elephant9.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}