****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Per Oddvar Johansen has played a huge part in Norwegian music over many years and has worked extensively with such groundbreaking figures as Helge Lien, Christian Wallumrød and Petter Wettre. He brings his own imaginative drive to everything he does and his solo debut album ‘Let’s Dance’ on Edition Records shines a spotlight on a musician who has deserved the attention for a long time. As Per Oddvar explains: ‘I wanted to try and compose music with a rubato (no set tempo), lyrical and open soundscape. To achieve this, I have written long sheets, with not so much information in them, thus taking control over the whole structure and tonal landscape, at the same time giving everybody the possibility to shape and direct the music in the moment.Meditative, beautiful, stately and austere, the songs on Let’s Dance are the product of a finely tuned musicianship, developing along an organic and entirely natural and unique path, each intensely satisfying and fulfilling. Per Oddvar’s propulsive rhythms underlie each tune but never attempt to dominate. If there is a dance to be danced it’s a tranquil, dignified and sedate dance – a folk dance celebrating a grave and solemn moment.The ensemble is Per Oddvar Johansen, drums, violins, vibraphone, guitars, wood percussion & electronics, Helge Lien, piano, and Torben Snekkestad, saxophones, reed trumpetThe tracks are as follows:Let’s DanceNo. 7Forest FlowerFlyingPanoramaUluruImpromptuFamiliesSong MThe music is universal in appeal and special in sound to Nordic music. Drift with them. Grady Harp, October 16
