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Null: Null
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Young Norwegian fusion trio Nullguitarist Viktor Wilhelmsen, bassist Aksel Jensen and drummer Stian Lundbergspeculates on what would have happened if the Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix plans to record an album together were realized. And how it would have sounded if influenced by the work of seminal Norwegian guitarist Terje Rypdal, mainly in his seventies bands, when playing in dance clubs.
Null aesthetics encompasses all aspects of the often disregarded genre of fusion, with all its power, acrobatic techniques and often virtuoso playing. The commanding, charismatic guitar playing of Wilhelmsen is clearly inspired by Rypdal, especially on "No Sense," but sounds freer, pushed and challenged by the tight, aggressive rhythm section of Jensen and Lundberg. When Null slows down, literally on "Slow Down," it still sounds like a massive stream of energy waiting for a cathartic eruption. On "Phaselift" and the impressionistic "Rust" the trio adopts muscular funky slap bass lines that pays tribute to the great bassist Marcus Miller. Even the atmospheric ballad "Right Now" and the surprising slide blues of "Adult Contemporary Music" ride on a disturbing vein of dark energy, delivered by bursting bass lines.
The powerful, driving music of Null is irresistible. An organic blend of reckless, muscular rock with a jazz-based, eager need for improvisation that sends energetic waves of grooves that make it impossible to sit still while listening to it.
Null aesthetics encompasses all aspects of the often disregarded genre of fusion, with all its power, acrobatic techniques and often virtuoso playing. The commanding, charismatic guitar playing of Wilhelmsen is clearly inspired by Rypdal, especially on "No Sense," but sounds freer, pushed and challenged by the tight, aggressive rhythm section of Jensen and Lundberg. When Null slows down, literally on "Slow Down," it still sounds like a massive stream of energy waiting for a cathartic eruption. On "Phaselift" and the impressionistic "Rust" the trio adopts muscular funky slap bass lines that pays tribute to the great bassist Marcus Miller. Even the atmospheric ballad "Right Now" and the surprising slide blues of "Adult Contemporary Music" ride on a disturbing vein of dark energy, delivered by bursting bass lines.
The powerful, driving music of Null is irresistible. An organic blend of reckless, muscular rock with a jazz-based, eager need for improvisation that sends energetic waves of grooves that make it impossible to sit still while listening to it.
Track Listing
First Meeting; Slow Down; Phaselift; Right Now; Rust; Adult Contemporary Music; No Sense.
Personnel
Viktor Wilhelmsen: guitar; Aksel Jensen: bass; Stian Lundberg: drums.
Album information
Title: Null | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Just For The Records
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Null
CD/LP/Track Review
Eyal Hareuveni
Just For The Records
Norway
Oslo
Miles Davis
Jimi Hendrix
Terje Rypdal
Marcus Miller