1982-A/B

dereksmusicblog ♦ May 6, 2014 ♦ Leave a comment

1982-A/B

A/B the fourth album from enigmatic Norwegian improvisational trio 1982, sees them draw inspiration from the past. The result is another groundbreaking album A/B,, which will be released on Hubro Music, on 12th May 2014. It’s the followup to 2012s 1982 + B.J. Cole. This was the third album 1982 had released since they formed back in 2007. A lot has happened since then. A/B harks back to the age of the vinyl album and is the latest chapter in the 1982 story.

The 1982 story began back in 2007. That’s when Sigbjørn Apeland, Øyvind Skarbø and Nils Økland formed what was essentially a Norwegian supergroup consisting of innovative musicals. Each member of 1982 was an experienced and inventive musician. They’d all played on albums by other bands. Nils Økland had already released a trio of solo albums. 1982 would become a vehicle to showcase their collective talents. 

Two years later, in 2009, 1982 released their debut album. Entitled Sigbjørn Apeland, Øyvind Skarbø, Nils Økland, it was released to critical acclaim. The improvisational trio had released an album of innovative, inventive and influential music. This was just the first chapter in the story of one of Norway’s most exciting bands.

Pintura was 1982s sophomore album. It was recorded at Grieghallen Studio, Bergen,  on December 7th 2010. Released in 2011, on Hubro Music, Pintura featured saw 1982 pick up where they left off on their debut album. Critically acclaimed and featuring groundbreaking music, word was spreading about 1982 and their unique improvisational style. Their third album would be a collaboration with a musical veteran.

1982 + B.J. Cole saw Sigbjørn Apeland, Øyvind Skarbø and Nils Økland joined by legendary pedal steel player B.J. Cole. For many people, 1982 + B.J. Cole  might have seemed like unlikely collaborators. Especially, given their different musical backgrounds. However, this is what people have come to expect from 1982. They’re determined to push musical boundaries to their limit, and sometimes, beyond. This is what they did on 1982 + B.J. Cole. The result was an ambitious and innovative album. For A/B, the followup to 1982 + B.J. Cole, 1982 have decided to collaborate again. 

When work began on what would be A/B, 1982 decided their fourth album would be another collaboration. This time, 1982  invited wind players Fredrik Ljungkvist of Atomic, Erik Johannessen of Jaga Jazzist, plus Sofya Dudaeva, Hanne Liland Rekdal, Matthias Wallin and Stian Omenås. They’d play on what was an unorthodox collaboration.

A/B harks back to the days of the vinyl album. Essentially, it’s album of two parts, the A-side and B-Side. The A-Side features just one lengthy piece. Hence the title 18.16. It was penned by Sigbjørn Apeland, Øyvind Skarbø, Nils Økland and Stian Omenås. This piece is seen as the most innovative piece of music 1982 have recorded. Stian has composed and arranged a piece for a wind sextet. It’s another layer of music that sits atop the original improvisation. The rest of A/B was penned by Sigbjørn, Øyvind and Nils. 

Just like 18:16, the other tracks 02:01, 03:51, 03:12, 1:08 and 5:00, indicate the length of the track. This isn’t new. 1982 have been doing this since their debut album. It’s actually a clever idea. With no traditional title, there’s nothing to give you a clue as to the meaning of the music. Instead, you can let your imagination run riot. That’s perfect for the music on A/B.

On the B-Side, 1982  return to playing as a trio. There’s a number of departures from previous 1982 albums. Sigbjørn plays piano on one track, and Nils delivers a vocal. This is just part of 1982s musical journey. During this journey, their raison d’être is to always create groundbreaking, innovative music. With each album, 1982 are determined to push things even further. This is the case on A/B.

Recording of A/B took place in two studios. 1982 recorded A/B in Grieghallen Studio in Bergen. This was just before the studio shut its doors for the last time in the summer of 2013. Nils played Hardanger fiddles and violins and added a vocal. Stian recorded the sextet in Oslo.

The sextet was recorded at Rainbow Studio, in Oslo, with technician Jan Erik Kongshaug, Fredrik Ljungkvist played clarinet, Sofya Dudaeva flute, Hanne Liland Rekdal bassoon, Matthias Wallin tenor horn, Erik Johannessen trombone and Stian Omenås trumpet. When the sextet had recorded 18:16 their part, it was layered atop the piece recorded by 1982  by producer Øyvind Skarbø. The result you’ll realise, when I tell you about A/B, is one of the most groundbreaking pieces of music 1982 have ever recorded, 18:16.

18:16 opens A/B, 1982s fourth album. It’s understated and ethereal as it reveals its subtleties and nuances. A harmonium, violin and wind instruments play gently, They play with care and subtlety. The arrangement meanders along, gradually unfolding. Soon, a clarinet enters. It adds an element of drama. Meanwhile, scratchy fiddles add a melancholy sound. By now, everything from ambient, avant garde, classical, experimental and jazz has been combined. Later, 1982 add their unique improvisational twist to the track. When free jazz enters the equation, the track veers between haunting, to eerie, disturbing and dramatic. Much later, the arrangement is spacious and pensive, before returning to a an understated, ethereal and wistful sound. This results in an epic track, one that’s ambitious, challenging, dramatic and groundbreaking. So much so, that it’s career defining track for 1982 that’s a game-changer as far as they’re concerned. 

Just a lone piano opens the spacious 02:01. Soon, it’s all change. Drums, percussion and fiddles join forces. They dominate the arrangement. The piano adds to the drama, before the arrangement returns to an understated, wistful sound. 

It’s just thoughtful drums that open 03:51. A distant violin makes its way forward. So does a droning sound. Mostly, it’s just the drums and fiddle that create an understated and melancholy arrangement. The addition of the droning sound adds to the melancholia. It also adds a melodic sound to this dreamy, thoughtful track.

03:12 picks up where 03:51 left off. The arrangement has an understated, thoughtful sound. A fiddle, harmonium and scatted vocal combine as the arrangement unfolds in waves. It’s a combination of ambient, avant grade, drone and 1982s unique improvisational style. Nils delivers an improvised vocal that’s the perfect foil for the rest of the arrangement. This results in a track that’s variously haunting, beautiful, ethereal and gloriously understated.

01:08 is a brief sonic experiment. It’s a taste of what 1982 are capable of. 1982 draw you in, improvising and taking you on a journey. Sadly, it’s over before it’s begin. However, you’ve had a tantalising taste of what 1982 are capable of where they’re capable of taking you.

05:00 closes A/B. Just like most of the music on the “B-Side” the music is understated, wistful and melancholy.  Drums played by brushes join the harmonium and fiddle. They leave space within the arrangement. It’s as if they’re allowing music for the music to breathe. By then, it’s broody and eerie. Hi-hats hiss as ambient, classical and jazz combine with experimental music. Later, the music becomes broody, moody  and heart-achingly beautiful. 

A/B, which is the fourth album from Norwegian improvisational trio 1982, is without doubt, the best album of their career. Flawless describes this Nordic minimalist epic. So does innovative, understated, wistful, melancholy, dramatic, dreamy, eerie, beautiful, broody, moody and haunting.  A/B are all these things and more as 1982 seamlessly, mix musical genres.

Everything from ambient, avant garde, classical, drone, experimental, free jazz and jazz is combined by 1982. The result is A/B an album of groundbreaking sonic journeys. A/B’s centrepiece is 18:16, the album’s Magnus Opus. It’s a collaboration with a wind sextet. This collaboration was one of the most ambitious pieces of music 1982 have ever recorded. Quite simply, it’s a groundbreaking piece of music that for 1982, will be game-changer. 18:16 is also a career defining track. It’s what everything else 1982 produce will be compared to. However, there’s more to A/B than 18:16.

The other five tracks are part of an innovative and influential sonic experience. 1982 take you combine musical genres to create music that’s emotive and tugs at your heartstrings. It’s also music that’s beautiful, complex and full of nuances. The music is multilayered, spectral and full of textures. These five tracks, just like 18:16, are part of an album that’s career defining. That’s how I’d described A/B, 1982s fourth album which was released on Hubro Music, on 12th May 2014. A/B is a career defining album from the groundbreaking Norwegian improvisational trio 1982.

1982-A/B