Greatest Show On Earth - Elephant9

After the last two recordings with the Swedish guitarist Nils Reine Fiske (Dungen) in quartet, Elephant9 are back with a fifth album, this time back to the core trio, Ståle Storløkken on keyboards, Nikolai Hængsle on bass and Torstein Lofthus on drums.

Although their new album, Greatest Show On Earth, is more structured, more focused, we are once again entitled to great improvisations, but above all, to a frenetic energy and a play based on creativity, precision and virtuosity. The trio takes us to levels of Spacejazz, Virtuoso prog and Far Out Pshych mixed with elements of jazz-fusion at its beginnings.

Ståle Storløkken often uses sounds from the seventies, those of the Hammond organ and the Mellotron, which sound like a mix of Keith Emerson and Dave Sinclair in the best moments of CARAVAN. The sounds of modern synths are only used sporadically and for certain songs, on others, return to free improvisations.

Greatest Show On Earth may not be for those who love their jazz comfortable and cohesive, but it's a beautifully energetic album for those who appreciate free jazz, progressive rock and good doses of disturbing sounds.

The Norwegian trio Elephant9 is possibly one of the most intense jazz ensembles on the planet today.

Tracklist

  (CD) 1 /Way Of Return/ 2 /Actionpack 1/ 3 /Farmer's Secret/ 4 /Dancing With Mr. E/ 5 /Mystery Blend/ 6 /Freaks/