THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE – A Passage to Elsewhere

RELEASE YEAR: 2026
BAND URL: https://thesamueljackson5.bandcamp.com/album/a-passage-to-elsewhere

With what is unarguably one of the coolest band names in existence, one can only love this charming and quirky-sounding Norwegian ensemble and their spectacular blend of post-rock, krautrock, art rock, and prog, which is overflowing with sophisticated riffs that veer either towards the melancholy or the uplifting, infectious licks that will linger in the back of your head for days on end, and a pleasingly laidback atmosphere that occasionally turns rather intense and strangely aggressive.

Something out of the ordinary and rather difficult to describe is what we have in our hands here, and the record is all the better for it. With top-drawer musical talent on display, a crisp production that highlights all the subtle details and nuances of these eight imaginative compositions, and song arrangements that inspire both immersion and vertigo, this excellent output never falls into predictable patterns. By combining clever riffs and grooves with progressive chops and a certain amount of density with respect to layers and textures, these chaps have conceived a record that is as refreshing and invigorating to listen to as it is challenging and rewarding. In that sense, the title of the opus is a most fitting and appropriate one, because it truly does serve as a passage to elsewhere – to something that exists outside norms, rules, and conventions.

The Samuel Jackson Five excel at balancing quality and catchiness with hyperactive intricacies and melodic frenzy, and there are plenty of reasons to keep an eye out for this LP when it hits the street on October 30 via Karisma Records. This one leaves me feeling euphoric – as simple as that, really.