THE TRONOSONIC EXPERIENCE – The Shadow Vol. 1

How on earth this one snuck right by me back in March is beyond me, but the most important thing is that I recently got my hands on this psychedelic-looking digipak by the Norwegian jazz/prog/avant-garde noisemakers The Tronosonic Experience. Let me tell you right here and now that “The Shadow Vol. 1” rules and that the openminded listeners out there are in for a treat.

With reckless abandon and an overwhelming sense of energy, these talented gentlemen plow through seven memorable compositions where the dynamics are reinforced by some incredibly inventive arrangements and the intensity of the playing. The long, sprawling “Totak” possesses an aura that recalls the glorious “Twin Peaks” soundtrack whereas parts of “The Last Stand” are more akin to something that Soft Machine might have conjured up when at their heaviest and most aggressive. Some parts even reminded me of Barry Adamson’s soundtrack work (think the David Lynch flick “Lost Highway”), but the fact of the matter is that these guys have stumbled on a style and vehicle of expression that they can rightfully call their own. The LP is soaked in atmosphere, and at roughly half an hour long it does not exactly outstay its welcome nor run the risk of losing its momentum. There are some majestic and explosive crescendos to be reveled in as well as several hypnotic and borderline tranquil passages – it truly does cover a lot of musical ground.

Playful, lively, and unpredictable, “The Shadow Vol. 1” possesses a vitality that has the power to thrill, and The Tronosonic Experience sound remarkably sure of themselves here, which I absolutely love. Magnificent and inspired stuff.