The Opposite: In Action

The Opposite investigates improvisation and interplay through a collective group sound and open approach, assimilating elements of rock and Indian, African and Cuban musical traditions. In Sction documents this Swedish sextet live on a Swedish club tour in 2011. The live setting enable The Opposite to emphasize its formative influences, including early fusion bands like Weather Report, trumpeter Miles Davis' '70s groups—even keyboardist Sun Ra's eccentric Arkestras, through expanded improvisations.

The 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.