When Elephant9 release a live album it is cause to sit up and pay attention as their burgeoning reputation as a cohesive live powerhouse is so well deserved. Their previous live album, Psychedelic Backfire I & II, was released in 2019 and I was honoured to be able to review it here at The Progressive Aspect. This new live album follows quick on the heels of their latest studio album, Mythical River, released earlier in the year and which I also reviewed for TPA. As I said they are well known as a trio but on that album they partnered with Reine Fiske, and here on this release they are partnered with Terje Rypdal, whom it so happens is Fiske’s favourite guitarist, and what Rypdal adds here demonstrates why.
This particular concert was recorded live at Victoria National Jazz Scene, Oslo by Stein André Hovden on the 29th January 2017, mixing for this release was done by Christian Engfelt at Studio Paradiso June 2024, mastering by Jørgen Træen at Duper Grotten and the production was handled by Elephant9 themselves. The music was written by band leader Ståle Storløkken, except tracks 4 and 6 which were written by bass player Nikolai Hængsle. The album consists of six tracks which deliver a rollercoaster ride of enjoyment over its seventy-two minute running time.
The band kick things off with the twenty-two minute Cover The Mountain Top, and a slow atmospheric start to the track is provided by Storløkken’s keyboards. Rypdal’s guitar enters slowly making its presence felt, which is followed at just under four minutes by the rhythm section, where the pace picks up. The interplay between the instruments is excellent, each band member providing what is needed without dominating. At around nine minutes the tempo increases again with the band striding forward driven by Hængsle and Lofthu. The track continues to develop, evolving into a somewhat frenetic but controlled finale, a breath-taking opening statement.
They follow that up with a twenty minute version of Dodovoodo which is twice the length of the previous live version which appeared on Psychedelic Backfire and four times the length of the studio version. No messing around here the band hit you full on from the outset, playing with pace and control, with the instruments interplaying around one another. The pace is taken down for Psychedelic Backfire which maintains a stomping beat from the rhythm section almost throughout its duration, allowing time and space Storløkken’s keyboards and Rypdal’s guitar to rip over the top.
Each minute that this album progresses it ups the interest level. John Tinnick, the album’s shortest track at just shy of five minutes, takes off from bar one, with a rolling drums, underpinned by a solid bass line, supported by Hammond flourishes and topped with an anomalous solo from Rypdal. The pace is sustained as we segue into Fugi Fønix. The tension builds throughout with the expectation that it could all explode and fall apart, but it then continues to move along like an express train which settles down when Rypdal’s guitar makes its presence felt with an atmospheric soundscape style. The album comes to a close with Skink, which provides another frenetic but controlled ending to what has been a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.
Elephant9 have a great reputation as a live unit, and rightly so. Catching Fire is a recording that captures their true live essence, and it is an album that for me is up there with the best live releases. It is a live journey full of interest and so much depth it begs to be played repeatedly. If you are not familiar with Elephant9 this could be a great place to start, if you are a fan you will totally enjoy every moment.
TRACK LISTING
01. Cover The Mountain Top (22:18)
02. Dodovoodoo (21:28)
03. Psychedelic Backfire (12:37)
04. John Tinnick (4:57)
05. Fugl Fønix (10:42)
06. Skink (8:32)
Total Time – 72:02
MUSICIANS
Ståle Storløkken – Hammond Organ, Rhodes Piano, Mellotron
Nikolai Hængsle – Electric Bass
Torstein Lofthus – Drums
Terje Rypdal – Electric Guitar
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Rune Grammofon
Catalogue#: RCD2236 / RCD3236
Country of Origin: Norway
Date of Release: 25th October 2024
LINKS
Elephant9 – Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram
Terje Rypdal – Website (ECM) | Facebook | Facebook (Group)