Description
Second release on Losen Records from the outstanding Icelandic trio led by guitarist Andree Thor, with Nico Moreaux on bass and Magnus Trygvason Eliassen on drums. Relocate follows their debut album Hereby (2022), which critics announced as being one of the best guitar led trio recordings to have emerged in recent years.
The first thing that strikes one about the music presented here is the intense beauty and sound of Andres Thor's guitar; lush throughout, from the introspective 'Is It Me, Is It You', to more dense tunes such as 'Tuesday Morning Coffee'. And oh, that pedal steel doubling with the electric guitar on 'Grace On High' is so mesmerising. Engineer Gestur Sveinsson deserves a feather in his cap for the excellent recording quality: warm, direct, homogeneous, with subtle use of reverb and a fantastic approach to the stereo placement of the instruments, making the music wonderfully transparent.
These musicians have nothing to prove; they simply add their maturity and individual voice to the diverse tunes composed by Andres.
Bassist Nico Moreaux, navigating between Reykjavik and Paris, is a truly wonderful player. A lush, warm sound; he possesses a strong melodic sense and great interplay abilities. He is a wonderful example of how the double bass has developed over the last four to five decades. His playing is modern yet deeply rooted in a tradition that embraces bassists like Larry Grenadier and Thomas Morgan. Check out his interactive playing on 'Under The Weather, his breathtaking solo on 'Is It You', 'Is It Me', and his concise intro on 'Vingt Huit'.
Drummer Magnus Trygvason Eliassen amazes with his ability to create a rhythmic tapestry that supports each of the tunes yet pulls the ear toward its own inner intricacies and creativity. You can understand him being a much sought-after drummer in a broad musical field.
Andres Thor: guitar
Magnus Trygvason Eliassen: drums
Nico Moreaux: double bass
All compositions by Andres Thor
Recorded December 2024 by Gestur Sveinsson at Syrland Studios, Reykjavik, Iceland.
