Ivar Grydeland — Bøyning, Brytning

Bøyning, Brytning ( Bending, Breaking) is a very fitting title for this new album from  Norwegian guitarist Ivar Grydeland. As the tracks often feel as if they are being steadily pushed, pulled, and at times twisted out into unpredictable/alien shapes.

The CD album appears on Sofa Music, who have a real ear for hunting down the more adventurous/interesting in modern composition and jazz-connected genres. As we’ve come to expect from the label, we get a nice arty presentation, with the fold-out glossy digipak taking in colourful/ abstract ink splashes art.

We open with the longest track here,  the nearing seventeen &  and a half minutes of “Virkning av lysets bøyning” which pairs a steady- if awkwardly knocking edged percussion,  hauntingly clear guitar layers, harp-like simmer, and moments of sinisterly whooping electronics. With latter sudden dips into pared-back strike, simmer, and minimal glitches.

We have the detailed/ almost skipping, glitchy pitter-patter beats and moody oscillation-slight seared guitar pluses of “Virkning av lysets brytning”. At points, the guitar pitches seem to be farting ‘n’ failing at the edge of going out.  Or there is beatless, simmering ‘n’ pitch souring tones of “Snyt meg langsommere”.

Bøyning, Brytning is a wonderful, unpredictable, at times wonkily emotive album. Which truly does reward closer re-listens.