It’s certainly a soft touch and who could resist the line, “If you’ve ever wondered what it would sound like if a bass player from the underground jazz scene in Oslo teamed up with a strange guitarist from the sticks in Oklahoma, well here it is.”

Now that’s the sort of thing I do wonder about especially when there’s a Theremin involved. The result is a right experimental ambient electronica mix that would satisfy fans of Brian Eno to Daedelus.

‘Aaron’s Hat’ is particularly in that mould of atmospheric stings and cut up tape beats and ‘Double Stop’ is very low-key music box music for Clangers that is very charming.

Similarly, the title track is a very chilled tape loop melody with the ‘lead’ taken by what sounds like raindrops with a tinkering ‘Strawberry Letter 23’ riff. Whilst ‘Mello Vibro’ is upbeat in comparison to most of the album and more ethnic-Kraftwerk.

Current favourites are independent hip hoppish instrumentals. ‘Cut Up Clocky’ is probably on the edge of Dublab with beats and guitar ‘noise’ (Fripp & Eno style) and hurdy gurdy ‘Thread’ where we can hear some ‘sticks’ type banjo playing with the breaks.

The album ends with ‘Luminosity’ which is a short piece of respect to Tangerine Dream — even though they wouldn’t appreciate the vinyl ‘scratch’ effect I wouldn’t have thought.

I could image that some of this album could fall into one of those naff relaxation CDs but it would be a shame to write it off on that basis as, it isn’t. And if it did, it’d be one to get as we all need some relaxation at some time. Who’d have thought Baaba Maal was influenced by a Mr. Eno? (see links below)

While we’ve only got half a Norwegian Voice in Eivind Opsvik, the country seems to consistently produced interesting musicians with the likes of Jazzland Records (what’s happened to the Future Jazz From Norway, Bugge Wesseltoft, Sidsel Endresen etc) and Hanne Hukkelberg. Regular readers will have spotted I’ve got an obsession with Gilles Peterson’s show of a couple of weeks ago and my new mellow sound sculpting favs at the moment are, Hanne Hukkelberg. Their sound is more of a ‘traditional’ band than Opsvik & Jennings; you know proper singing, guitar, drums, clarinet, water, bottles, wine glasses, bicycle(!) [first spotted on Sutekh’s Born Again: Collected Remixes 1999-2005]. Excellent quality all.

Good to see the spirit of experimentation is alive and well.

Reviewed: Opsvik & Jennings - Fløyel Files (NCM East) Cat. No. 41026 CD [Released November 2005]
Tracklisting:
1. Thread (4:11)
2. Aaron’s Hat (7:09)
3. Double Stop (3:39)
4. Still The Tiger Town (5:31)
5. Place For My Things (2:51)
6. Fløyel Fil (7:11)
7. Loyal Retainer (7:08)
8. Mello Vibro (5:19)
9. Cut Up Clocky (5:19)
10. Luminosity (2:22)

Links:
Opvik & Jennings www.opsvikandjennings.com
NCM East www.ncmeast.com
Eivind Opsvik
Baaba Maal Straddles Past and Present 11/03/2005 4:16 PM
Hanne Hukkelberg www.hannehukkelberg.com
Gilles Peterson Tracklisting 13/11/05 : Hanne Hukkeberg in Session
3) Hanne Hukkelberg – ‘Do Not As I Do’ (Leaf)
Hanne Hukkelberg Live In Session:
19) Hanne Hukkelberg – ‘Cast Anchor’ (Live In Session)
20) Hanne Hukkelberg ‘Little Girl’ (Live In Session)