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The Opposite: In Action
ByThe main composers are guitarist Samuel Hällkvist and pianist Loïc Dequidt. Hällkvist's fierce guitar playing pushes the sextet into stormy and muscular interplay on his "Switch Foot Pogo," through rapid shifts of dynamics and rhythms while still keeping an accessible groove. The lyrical "The Big Grab" is more reserved, possessing a cinematic narrative where the guitar acts as a troubled hero amid peaceful scenery.
Dequidt's compositions offer intricate and colorful textures. "God & Goods" and "Can't It?" swing lightly around engaging themes, allowing each musician to contribute nuanced solos to the powerful and rich collective sound. The pianist's "I Said Haha" features unpredictable and dramatic transformations in the dynamics and pulse, until it reaches a muscular and boisterous eruption. The group improvisation, "Seau d'air," folds patiently as an arresting story, slowly adds more sounds and colors to the spontaneous plot until it crystallizes its theme.
The Opposite operates on several levels, referencing its influences while offering fresh, open sonic textures, moving through multilayered and complex dynamics, and stressing accessible and emotional themes with a genuine band identity.
Track Listing
Switch Foot Pogo; Gods & Goods; Can´t It? (Interlude); The Big Grab; Can´t It?; Seau d'air; I Said Haha.
Personnel
Marcelo Gabard Pazos: saxophone; Samuel Hällkvist: guitar; Loïc Dequidt: piano, Rhodes; David Carlsson: electric bass; Peter Nilsson: drums; Anders Vestergård: percussion.
Album information
Title: In Action | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Kopasetic Productions
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