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Two years ago when a member of \u00d8yvind Skarb\u00f8\u2019s trio 1982 decided to leave the band after 11 years, Skarb\u00f8 had no idea what a gift it would end up being. At the time, the drummer\/bandleader felt unsettled, but it set Skarb\u00f8 on a path of re-examination and work that resulted in Skarb\u00f8 Skulekorps \u2013 a seven-member unit – and their first recorded outing.<\/p>\n
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The album \u2013 Skarb\u00f8 Skulekorps \u2013 an ambitious nine tracks that make up a double LP (and single CD) \u2013 is a culmination of much dedication to a musician\u2019s craft. Not held back by any constraints of musical preconceptions, Skarb\u00f8 is not afraid to step off the cliff into a genre-less wonderland and take chances.<\/p>\n
They even offers up a steel guitar solo on Pilabue (performed by Johan Lindstr\u00f6m), supplying a moment of country comfort. But don\u2019t get too comfortable for too long. A moment later, odd times and blaring horns escorts the steel guitar off into the sunset with a whimper.<\/p>\n
Right out of the gate with 1-555-3327, Skarb\u00f8 treats his listeners to something he\u2019s never done on a record: vocals and lyrics! So named because the song is vaguely about inventor Nikola\u00a0Tesla, known to have an obsessive-compulsive disorder around the number 3, who died in a hotel room number 3327.<\/span><\/p>\n The song opens with R&B horns blasts against Skarb\u00f8\u2019s backbeat, heralding three guest singers from the popular two-time Grammy winning Norwegian folk-rock band Real Ones. On the same track, the wistful sounds of the steel guitar cry out in the background. There is also an apperance by a local marching band, leading the listener into a multi-layered musical journey.<\/p>\n Hiring Real Ones represented a full-circle moment for him, as Skarb\u00f8 subbed with the band at 24.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to write something more elaborate this time,\u201d says Skarb\u00f8. He already recognized 15 years ago an urge to compose, but never took the time, or dared to commit to it. Two years ago, when 1982 folded, he had to rethink things, and instead of resigning began to invest serious study time. He spent seven months writing the material for this album. He approached it as a composer, not really as a drummer.<\/p>\n Notable is Lysets Hastighet, (\u201cSpeed of Light\u201d), a track dedicated to his friend, guitarist\/composer Ruben Machtelinckx\u200e with whom he\u2019s played for a few years. On this melodic track, the drummer\/composer is just holding down the fort as his players take on the spotlight. \u201cThe drums on this record is really the last thing,\u201d he says. \u201cI spent so much time as a composer, producer and organizing everything. As a drummer, it was like showing up at the session and I didn\u2019t know what I was going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Don\u2019t let him fool you \u2013 there\u2019s some stellar drumming on the record. Take a listen to Turnamat, Farrier and the Hoof, and the backbeat and groove on Kad\u00f3.<\/p>\n Skarb\u00f8 should be known to fans of Hubro from his four albums with the trio 1982 (with Nils \u00d8kland and Sigbj\u00f8rn Apeland), as well as three recordings with the band Bly de Blyant (with Hilmar Jensson and Shahzad Ismaily). Others may know him more from the quartet Inland Empire (with Kris Davis, Fredrik Ljungkvist and Ole Morten V\u00e5gan) or as a former member of the H\u00e5kon Kornstad Ensemble.<\/p>\n While Skarb\u00f8 made a name for himself in jazz and free improvised music, at about 29, he acknowledged he had suppressed his love of backbeat-based music and realized he had to retrain himself. (Check out some serious timekeeping on Four Foxes.) \u201cI started woodshedding on the drums again, and I’m still working on it.\u201d Skarb\u00f8 says. “Now I’ve brought the same approach to composition”.<\/p>\n Ideas for this record have been formulating for years, the musician says. Gliploss has been festering for ten years. The rhythmic tune opens with a couple of false starts with accompanying obscenities that Skarb\u00f8 decided to keep.<\/p>\n Skarb\u00f8 says the final track, 50 MB RAM, was perhaps slightly more challenging than the rest since he simultaneously contributed vocals and banjo \u2013 both firsts for him on a record. But this last tune will send you off on a spirited flight with its steel guitar, banjo strums, vocal chorus and finally the majesty of the drums.<\/p>\n He gives credit to engineer\/mixer J\u00f8rgen Tr\u00e6en for the album\u2019s sound quality, who recorded it all at Duper Studio in Bergen, Norway. The mixing process turned out to be very creative and spontaneous. \u201cIt’s the first album of mine that’s more produced,\u201d Skarb\u00f8 says. \u201cIn the sense that most of the other records I’ve done were going for a more natural, acoustic sound, on this one we took a lot more liberties in the mix. J\u00f8rgen thinks very musical, as opposed to technical, and isn’t afraid to drastically change things around.\u201d<\/p>\n He also gives kudos to all the players who accomplished the 3-day recording schedule with two or three take performances. They cut mostly live with a few overdubs. \u201cThey are all amazing. Everyone brought a lot to the music,\u201d he says, adding that the diverse backgrounds of the players added a lot to his project. \u201cSometimes when things are as written out as this, that\u2019s not always the case.\u201d<\/p>\n For longtime followers of Skarb\u00f8, this collection will bear many delightful surprises. For those just becoming hip to this artist, welcome to a creative force that will captivate and enchant your musical imagination.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Two years ago when a member of \u00d8yvind Skarb\u00f8\u2019s trio 1982 decided to leave the band after 11 years, Skarb\u00f8 had no idea what a gift it would end up being. At the time, the drummer\/bandleader felt unsettled, but it set Skarb\u00f8 on a path of re-examination and work that resulted in Skarb\u00f8 Skulekorps \u2013 a seven-member unit – and their first recorded outing.<\/p>\n