Fluidity, immersion and art-pop in “Last Two Inches of Sky” by Eivind Aarset and Jan Bang
"Last Two Inches of Sky", released by Punkt Editions on September 23, is an ambitious and engaging mix of sonic textures and art-pop; a new highlight in the musical production of Eivind Aarset and Jan Bang.
Aarset and Bang have collaborated since the early 1990s together with, among others, Nils Petter Molvær, Bugge Wesseltoft, Sly & Robbie and Jon Hassell.
“Snow Catches on her Eyelashes” (2020) was their first duo recording, a really interesting album, praised by critics.
Aarset is an innovator who stands out on the international scene for his talent and ability to create a unique sound, which distinguishes him from all other guitarists. The sound of the electric guitar has always depended not only on the instrument itself, but on a long chain of amplifiers, analogue and digital effects, computer connections and loops that offer any guitarist the widest possibilities to generate new sounds far from the best known rock sound. Aarset has managed to bring these forms of electronic manipulation to a very high stylistic level.
“Last Two Inches of Sky” is very high quality, very refined electronic jazz music, characterized by an intelligent and creative sound design. Music that crosses boundaries and challenges traditional definitions of genre. An ambitious and engaging blend of art-pop sounds.
Eivind Aarset and Jan Bang are, without a doubt, masters at creating immersive and dense music, a rich diet of synthetic musical textures and tones. Across eight tracks, the music ranges from the war game soundtrack of "Minute Warning", to the Bowie-esque electronic ballad of the title track, sung beautifully by Tim Eisenberg. Soul-jazz veteran Nona Hendryx's ghostly appearance on "Legion", demonstrates an excellent pairing of her world-weary exhortation with Gianluca Petrella's trombone-driven electro-pop/reggae shuffle, illuminating the track with a artificial pop light.
The music of Aarset and Bang are quiet masterpieces that demonstrate a mysterious ability to draw new multidimensional sound plateaus, where the ear ranges towards three-dimensional horizons that are always visible, but never reachable. I believe their music is an extremely coherent form and constructed with the aim of creating a structured, opaque and impalpable narrative. Listening to their music does not raise concerns, but manages to stimulate new connections and insights.
“Last Two Inches of Sky” is a multidimensional experience: layer upon layer of color, light and shadow, placed in a new and current context. Aarset and Bang manage to design their own personal paradigm, without the need to express nostalgic revisions or post-futurist anguish.
Eivind Aarset
‘Eivind Aarset is today consecrated as one of the greatest Scandinavian guitarists, a master of light whose research and sound identity reverberated on countless musicians beyond jazz’. His debut as a bandleader on Jazzland Recordings was described by the New York Times as "One of the best post-Miles electric jazz albums," setting a high benchmark that Aarset has consistently met and exceeded, both in the studio and in live performance. As one of Norway's most in-demand guitarists, Eivind Aarset has worked with Jon Hassell, David Sylvian, Laurie Anderdson, Bill Laswell, Sly & Robbie, Tigran Hamasyan, Jan Bang, Jan Garbarek, Marilyn Mazur, Andy Sheppard, Hamid Drake, Husnu Selnederici and Arve Henriksen to name a few. He has worked with Nils Petter Molvaer's band, (appearing on all of Molvaer's albums up to 2010, including the breakthrough album "Khmer" and 2006's award winning "ER"). And not at least, he has a long-lasting collaboration with Dhafer Youssef, both live and in the studio.
Jan Bang
Jan Bang is a Norwegian musician and record producer, who has collaborated and recorded with Sidsel Endresen, David Sylvian, Jon Hassel, Tigran Hamasyan, Dai Fujikura, Nils Petter Molvær, Eivind Aarset, Arve Henriksen and Erik Honoré – with whom he co-founded Punkt Festival in 2005. Jan is one of Norway’s most accomplished and influential producers and is the kind of musical innovator and bridge-builder who consistently manages to balance progressive thinking with popular appeal. Forever looking to move music and musicians and audiences forward, he creates new meeting places and musical intersections.