Elephant9

Elephant9 – Mythical River (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 36:32 minutes | 680 MB | Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Jazz Rock, Progressive Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rune Grammofon

Their previous album Arrival of The New Elders presented a more varied and reflective trio, still 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”. Reviews in Jazzwise, Shindig, Prog, Electronic Sound, The Quietus and several others followed in the same fashion. We´re delighted to confirm that Mythical River 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 cosmic snippets. From the hypnotic and magical to the razor sharp and polyrhythmic, this is yet another very strong group effort from a trio on top of their game. Comparisons have been made with bands dating as far back as the sixties, but with Arrival of The New Elders and Mythical River Elephant9 appear as a thoroughly contemporary, timeless and even futuristic sounding band.

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Elephant9 – Psychedelic Backfire II (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:02:20 minutes | 746 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rune Grammofon

Reine Fiske has on several occasions proved a perfect guest for the trio, both on record and on stage. Never one to fight for attention, with Elephant9 he’s a true equal given the opportunity to express himself both as a soloist as well as a rhythm guitaris, his interaction with Ståle’s keyboards creating some magic sequences. Ståle Storløkken is a founder member of Supersilent since 1997, and has for many years been Terje Rypdal’s trusted right hand. Nikolai Hængsle is most known from Bigband and Band of Gold. Torstein Lofthus was a member of Shining for several years and has played with a large number of jazz, pop and rock artists. Reine Fiske is a founder member of Dungen and Träden, the continuation of the legendary Swedish group “Träd, Gräs Och Stenar”.

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Elephant9 – Psychedelic Backfire I (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:11:19 minutes | 853 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rune Grammofon

You won´t get your jazz much more grooving or rocking than Elephant9 on a stage. Already established as a vital live favourite on the Norwegian scene before their debut album “Dodovoodoo” in 2008, it was time to properly document this live force after five studio albums. Hence Psychedelic Backfire I and II. Recorded in front of enthusiastic crowds during a four day residency at the intimate Kampen Bistro in Oslo, “Psychedelic Backfire I” shows the trio in full flight while guest guitarist Reine Fiske is a vital presence on “Psychedelic Backfire II”. Reine has previously proved a perfect guest for the trio, both on record and on stage. Never one to fight for attention, with Elephant9 he´s a true equal given the opportunity to express himself both as a soloist as well as a rhythm guitarist, his interaction with keyboard player Ståle Storløkken creating some magic sequences. But you can´t build this sort of live reputation without a fantastic rhythm section, bassist Nikolai Hængsle and drummer Torstein Lofthus providing the necessary power and flexibility. Tracks are picked from all their albums, often given lenghty workouts with ample room for improvisation. The concerts were also filmed, so look out for some hi-energy close-up footage on social media and youtube..

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Elephant9 – Arrival of the New Elders (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 43:42 minutes | 486 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rune Grammofon

After a solid run of five studio albums and 2019´s two double live albums, Psychedelic Backfire I and II, Elephant9 had taken their groovy 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, they are as groovy as ever, but more structured and less jam oriented, with the longest tracks clocking in around the seven minute mark.

Having built a solid live reputation even before their brilliant 2008 debut Dodovoodoo, 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.

Arrival Of The New Elders was recorded by trusted stalwart Christian Engfelt, with early Dungen producer Mattias Glavå handling the mixing duties

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