By Stef Gijssels
Martin Küchen's Angles Ensemble must for sure be one of Sweden's most appreciated mini-big-band, with a recognisable sound that is truly unique. Sorry, I mean Europe's most appreciated larger ensemble. Every album is one to look out for, and this one does not fall short of the high expectations.
In three long tracks, the music is as infectious, as exhilarating, as enchanting, as compelling as ever.
The band members are Johan Berthling on double bass, Alex Zethson on Fender Rhodes, Juno 106, Mattias Ståhl on vibraphone, soprano saxophone, Konrad Agnas, Michaela Antalova and Kjell Nordeson on drums, Susana Santos Silva and Magnus Broo on trumpet, Josefin Runsteen on amplified violin, Eirik Hegdal on baritone and alto saxophones, and Martin Küchen on tenor and soprano saxophones. Fans will immediately notice the triple drums and the double trumpet line, as well as the addition of a violin to the line-up.As mentioned on previous reviews of the band, its messages is a political one, comparable to "the people united will never be defeated". It expresses a deep sense of injustice, drama and sadness about the fate of oppressed people that can be overcome by collaborating, by rallying them together - the real people - in a joint movement to stand up, heads raised and tackle the enemy with the confidence and energy of the collective power, here captured perfectly by its title "Tell Them It's The Sound Of Freedom". This is music that can only be fully appreciated in a live context. This is music that requires a large audience to share with, to become part of it, to be included into its total sound.
Even if the music is avant-garde, its roots go very deep into the communal music of village bands and funeral bands. Its sweeping themes, the brilliant arrangements and the powerful soloing are all here again in full force, in full energetic power. This is music that can only be fully appreciated in a live context. This is music that requires a large audience to share with, to become part of it, to be included into its total sound. A Dutch author of the 19th Century described art as the "most individual expression of the most individual emotion". In the case of Angles, it's almost the exact opposite. It's art as "the most collective expression of the most collective emotion".
The title song starts the album, slowly, sadly, with a madcap violin to start the soloing, followed by the weeping saxes, before falling back into perfect harmony of the entire orchestra, that leaves some space for the bass. Single instruments, like the vibes or the violin add exquisite touches to the ensemble's slowly progressing theme. The piece is only 11 minutes long, but for me it could go on forever. Incredibly moving.
"A Night In Schwabistan" pumps up the tempo, starting with some chaotic rehearsal sounds, until the "one, two, three, four" starts the entire band in full power, uptempo like a steamroller in a car rally. The title refers to the region of Swabia in Germany, as it is sometimes called humorously, referring to the middle-eastern countries with names ending in '-stan'. Zethson's keyboard is the instrument that keeps the entire piece together, producing mesmerising rhythmic chords throughout. Again, the arrangements and collective changes in the composition are brilliant and overpowering.
The final track, “Youngblood Transfusion,” opens with a drum intro that leads into the main theme, woven together by interlacing saxophones. The band eases in gracefully, settling into a beautiful mid-tempo groove. What follows is a sequence of deeply sorrowful solos—first from the saxes, then from the violin—before the piece disintegrates into sparse sonic fragments… only to regroup and surge back with full force, horns united and aimed toward the future in a moment of triumphant energy.
But just as quickly, the music collapses again, yielding to another burst of drumming and clearing the space for Susana Santos Silva’s solo—powerful, though in my view not quite loud enough—calling the full ensemble to rise, join her, and propel a grand finale that is relentless, unstoppable, joyful, and overwhelming.
Another winner.
Everything is great: the compositions, the arrangements, the playing, the freedom, the vision, the lack of perfection that makes it so human and close.
Listen and download from Bandcamp.
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