Home » Jazz Articles » XL

Jazz Articles about XL

142
Live Review

XL - Largely Visual Show

Read "XL - Largely Visual Show" reviewed by Anthony Shaw


Louhisali Espoo, Finland November 15, 2003

You don’t have to be Sting to know about walking on the moon – any concertgoer will tell you that. But exiting from the concert hall with giant steps that carry you deep into the far reaches of the neo-artic night is an experience only to be had regularly above latitude 60°, and to do it on the back of a concert stunning in musicianship, visualisations and effects in your ...

113
Album Review

XL: Visual

Read "Visual" reviewed by Anthony Shaw


Orchestral rock has come a long way since Keith Emerson and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and one of the bands which keeps pushing the genre forward is Helsinki's XL. Over the past eight years the group has released four CDs, including one live cutting. The latest offering features more celestial anthems and coruscating choruses, as well as intentions to spread beyond the cognoscenti of Scandinavia.

Track titles range across the post-industrial horizon, reflecting the styles lurking behind the ...

236
Album Review

XL: Surreal

Read "Surreal" reviewed by Matthew Wuethrich


A refreshing musical breeze has blown in from the north, characterized by strong melodies, subtle electronica, and unashamed love for grandiose themes and arrangements. Finland's XL has been developing for 10 years and on their latest release Surreal they make an intrepid statement. In a musical era obsessed with introspective abstraction, XL prefers exuberance and clarity. XL creates bold 21st century fusion, carrying on the broad-minded tradition established by 70s fusion giant Weather Report.

Like Weather report, XL ...

153
Album Review

XL: Jukola

Read "Jukola" reviewed by Scott Andrews


A four piece band from Finland, XL's second album Jukola showcases a breathtaking depth of sonic collage in eleven songs of melodic, instrumental rock. Jukola mixes throbbing dance beats with rock and jazz passages, spacey ambient sections with driving rock riffs, live instruments with electronics and processing, all framed in eccentric arrangements with dynamics that range from whisper quiet to rock clamor.

Jukola sounds immaculate, with sonic textures ranging from traditional guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards, to electronic percussion, effects, ...


Engage

Contest Giveaways
Enter our latest contest giveaway sponsored by Calligram Records
Polls & Surveys
Vote for your favorite musicians and participate in our brief surveys.
Publisher's Desk
How To Follow Staff Writers
Read on...

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.