Old-school musique concrete interludes and electronic add-ons mark the revered Ensemble's masterly new album, which both summarises their unique career so far, and jumps boldly into the unknown

"The material for this album has been developed over a 4 year period. I wanted to somehow expand the sonic palette of the Ensemble and to look for different ways to make music for and with them. For me, the process with the electronic instruments on board has led to some unpredictable combinations of sounds, and to new approaches to improvisation.” Christian Wallumrød

Christian Wallumrød (born 1971) is one of Norway’s most internationally-recognised contemporary composers, and an important voice in European music. His principal performing group, the Christian Wallumrød Ensemble, has established a worldwide reputation for formally adventurous, beautifully appointed sound that spans the divide between jazz and new music, and between notation and improvisation.

Over five highly acclaimed albums for the ECM label from 2001 to 2013, followed by 2016’s equally esteemed Hubro debut, ‘Kurzsam & Fulger’, the Ensemble’s work has traced an entirely consistent line of development. While the personnel has changed over time, and each particular album retains its own aesthetic integrity, the essential characteristics of the music have remained roughly the same, demonstrating a distinctive unity of style, theme and compositional approach. Rigorously reticent and philosophical in tone, Wallumrød’s numinous sound-world seems to speak - if it can be said to speak at all - of how difficult it is for a composer to say anything outside of sound itself.[info sheet from distr.]