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2LP/DVD
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RLP 3113LP
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Gatefold 2LP/DVD version. Ambitious, epic and grand in scale, In The Country's previous album Whiteout was an artistic triumph. Always a very powerful and exciting live act, it was only natural that a concert album should come at this stage of their career, after three studio albums and a number of Norwegian, European and U.S. tours. Originally planned as a concert DVD, In The Country invited video director Claus Arthur Breda-Gulbrandsen to bring a crew to film a couple of Norwegian shows in October 2010. Claus had previously directed two videos for Morten Qvenild's other band, Susanna And The Magical Orchestra. Not content with merely filming these shows, Claus (and the band as well) had bigger ambitions for a more expanded type of film, of which you can see the quite stunning results on the accompanying DVD, with its mysterious Tarkovsky-like dream sequences mixed with Hipgnosis types of images. Rune Grammophon considers this to be one of the finest music films ever produced in Norway and a treatment rarely given to a jazz band of any origin. Looking like something with a much bigger budget, it needs to be said that this is a labor of love from all involved, and especially the director. Also watch out for the hidden video after the film has ended. Apart from selections from all the studio albums, there are three new tracks here including a beautiful interpretation of Mark Knopler's "Brothers In Arms." Morten Qvenild (grand piano, electronics, vocals), Roger Arntzen (double bass, vocals), Pål Hausken (drums, percussion, electronics, vocals), Andreas Mjøs (guitars, vibraphone). DVD is European PAL format only, region free (can be viewed on all computers). 62 minutes, stereo, 16:9 aspect ratio.
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CD/DVD
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RCD 2113CD
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Ambitious, epic and grand in scale, In The Country's previous album Whiteout was an artistic triumph. Always a very powerful and exciting live act, it was only natural that a concert album should come at this stage of their career, after three studio albums and a number of Norwegian, European and U.S. tours. Originally planned as a concert DVD, In The Country invited video director Claus Arthur Breda-Gulbrandsen to bring a crew to film a couple of Norwegian shows in October 2010. Claus had previously directed two videos for Morten Qvenild's other band, Susanna And The Magical Orchestra. Not content with merely filming these shows, Claus (and the band as well) had bigger ambitions for a more expanded type of film, of which you can see the quite stunning results on the accompanying DVD, with its mysterious Tarkovsky-like dream sequences mixed with Hipgnosis types of images. Rune Grammophon considers this to be one of the finest music films ever produced in Norway and a treatment rarely given to a jazz band of any origin. Looking like something with a much bigger budget, it needs to be said that this is a labor of love from all involved, and especially the director. Also watch out for the hidden video after the film has ended. In the meantime, the label also decided to make it a part of an "ordinary" CD package, believing this will actually mean that more people will be able to see and enjoy it. Apart from selections from all the studio albums, there are three new tracks here including a beautiful interpretation of Mark Knopler's "Brothers In Arms." Morten Qvenild (grand piano, electronics, vocals), Roger Arntzen (double bass, vocals), Pål Hausken (drums, percussion, electronics, vocals), Andreas Mjøs (guitars, vibraphone). DVD is European PAL format only, region free. 62 minutes, stereo, 16:9 aspect ratio.
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2LP
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RLP 3086LP
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Gatefold double LP version, includes voucher for free mp3 download of the whole album. Ambitious, epic and grand in scale, the third album by Norway's piano trio In The Country could very well be their magnum opus. Most of the music was performed and written as a thank you, as is the tradition, after leader Morten Qvenild (Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, Shining) was awarded Kongsberg Jazzfestival's prestigious Musician's Award. Along with bass player Roger Arntzen and drummer Pål Hausken, on Whiteout, Qvenild allows themes to develop and terrain to broaden, as in exploratory jazz and classic progressive rock music. For example, "Ursa Major" starts out as an almost space-jazz expedition, which then crescendos and decrescendos into over 9 minutes of intertwining piano and post-rock guitar stratospherics. It's also a highly personal album, coming to an emotional and dramatic conclusion with the touching last track softly sung by Morten himself -- all gossamer and hazy brushstrokes of circling piano melodies, cymbal wash, and distant percussion. In The Country has been selected as among Norway's best musicians, reaching critical acclaim with their previous albums This Was The Pace Of My Heartbeat (RCD 2045CD) and Losing Stones, Collecting Bones (RCD 2059CD): Downbeat called their debut "one of the finest and most arresting albums to come out of Europe" that year, Mojo said "startling," Straight No Chaser said "fantastic," and a host of others followed. Whiteout is set to eclipse all previous praise, with its epic, masterful scope that shows this trio at the absolute peak of their compositional and performance powers. Recorded in the legendary Atlantis Studio in Stockholm, home of the first classic Abba recordings and full of vintage analog equipment. Engineered by Janne Hansson and mastered by Bob Katz, with a striking sleeve design by Kim Hiorthøy. In The Country are: Morten Qvenild (grand piano, synthesizers, Rhodes, programming and vocals), Roger Arntzen (double bass and vocals), Pål Hausken (drums, percussion, Dynacord Percuter and vocals), with Andreas Mjøs (Jaga Jazzist) (guitars, vibraphone, marimba, violin, programming and percussion).
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CD
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RCD 2086CD
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Ambitious, epic and grand in scale, the third album by Norway's piano trio In The Country could very well be their magnum opus. Most of the music was performed and written as a thank you, as is the tradition, after leader Morten Qvenild (Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, Shining) was awarded Kongsberg Jazzfestival's prestigious Musician's Award. Along with bass player Roger Arntzen and drummer Pål Hausken, on Whiteout, Qvenild allows themes to develop and terrain to broaden, as in exploratory jazz and classic progressive rock music. For example, "Ursa Major" starts out as an almost space-jazz expedition, which then crescendos and decrescendos into over 9 minutes of intertwining piano and post-rock guitar stratospherics. It's also a highly personal album, coming to an emotional and dramatic conclusion with the touching last track softly sung by Morten himself -- all gossamer and hazy brushstrokes of circling piano melodies, cymbal wash, and distant percussion. In The Country has been selected as among Norway's best musicians, reaching critical acclaim with their previous albums This Was The Pace Of My Heartbeat (RCD 2045CD) and Losing Stones, Collecting Bones (RCD 2059CD): Downbeat called their debut "one of the finest and most arresting albums to come out of Europe" that year, Mojo said "startling," Straight No Chaser said "fantastic," and a host of others followed. Whiteout is set to eclipse all previous praise, with its epic, masterful scope that shows this trio at the absolute peak of their compositional and performance powers. Recorded in the legendary Atlantis Studio in Stockholm, home of the first classic Abba recordings and full of vintage analog equipment. Engineered by Janne Hansson and mastered by Bob Katz, with a striking sleeve design by Kim Hiorthøy. In The Country are: Morten Qvenild (grand piano, synthesizers, Rhodes, programming and vocals), Roger Arntzen (double bass and vocals), Pål Hausken (drums, percussion, Dynacord Percuter and vocals), with Andreas Mjøs (Jaga Jazzist) (guitars, vibraphone, marimba, violin, programming and percussion).
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CD
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RCD 2059CD
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This is the second full-length release from In The Country, a Norwegian-based piano trio led by pianist Morten Qvenild (Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, Shining, Damp), along with bass player Roger Arntzen and drummer Pål Hulsken. Since their debut, they have been selected best young jazz artists in Norway and played concerts in Europe and the USA and released their debut album This Was The Pace Of My Heartbeat to much critical acclaim. Downbeat called it "one of the finest and most arresting albums to come out of Europe" that year, Mojo said "startling", Straight No Chaser said "fantastic," and a host of others followed. Losing Stones... is 11 brand new Qvenild originals that are bound to establish him as a writer with a strong signature -- original and melodic with elements from pop, rock, country, folk, gospel, blues and classical. It's all quite accessible, but also very rich in detail, with new twists and melodic turns that are revealed with each listen. His playing is, naturally, the focal point of the trio, but Arntzen and Hausken are not merely the pianist's rhythm section. This release was recorded in the legendary Atlantis Studio in Stockholm, home of the first classic Abba recordings and full of vintage analog equipment. Special guest artists include Marc Ribot (guitar) and Stefan Sundström (vocals). Engineered by Janne Hansson, mastered by Bob Katz, artwork by Kim Hiorthøy. Morten Qvenild: grand piano, celesta, Hammond organ and vocals; Roger Arntzen: double bass and vocals; Pål Hausken: drums, percussion, vibraphone, glockenspiel and vocals.
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CD
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RCD 2045CD
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Rune Grammofon presents its first "jazz" record with the debut release from this Norwegian-based piano trio led by pianist Morten Qvenild (Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, The National Bank). Along with bass player Roger Arntzen and drummer Pål Hulsken, In the Country are all active in other groups as well -- Qvenild and Arntzen most notably in Shining, Jaga Jazzist, and Damp. This Was The Pace Of My Heartbeat is not your typical piano trio album, meaning that Qvenild has skipped the Keith Jarrett school. When it comes to piano players he will admit to a certain fondness for Paul Bley and the late Norwegian free player Svein Finnerud, but he also draws inspiration from pop writers when it comes to a sense of structure, and modern composers such as Messiaen and Feldman for the use of space and sound. The album includes nine original Qvenild compositions as well as a Ryan Adams cover and an interpretation of Händel´s beautiful "Laschia Ch´io Pianga." Morten Qvenild is already a central force in a young generation of extremely competent Norwegian musicians operating with great ease between various genres such as jazz, pop, rock, classical, electronic and modern composition. The album is an analogue recording and is produced by Arve Henriksen.
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