Far in the artic circle, the Nordic noise and improv scene has produced some impressively divergent sounds over recent years – sounds that reflect very much on the nature of the landscape, the lack or overabundance of light during various parts of the year and other factors orbiting these two issues. Here, Hegre (of Jazzkammer fame) and Ratkje (best known as one half of fe:mail) team up to explore the more gentle and sparse sides of their musical interests.
Thankfully steering clear of the expected turf of outright blasts of noise and sonic debris, the pair realise a wonderfully open and personal vision of what the title “Ballds’ may suggest. Open passages of melodic guitar are washed out, hung and dried, then mixed together via gentle but firm dsp. The results are both highly listenable and remarkably individual. Looping tones interlock in unexpected ways, fragments of kalimba poke through and strummed notes float above gritty handmade percussion. Here lies a wonderful exercise in the finer edge of Nordic noise music.
Lawrence English
