An original and exciting new band was born in the summer of 1998 when British saxophonist Iain Ballamy was invited to perform at the Molde International Jazz Festival with three astonishing young musicians from Norway.
Pretty soon it because apparent that the combination of Iain Ballamy's distinctive saxophone blended with Arve Henriksen's vocal and electro-trumpet textures was the perfect foil for the entrancing bass and drum trips created by Mats Eilertsen and Thomas Strønen.
Their music is typified by its freedom, creativity and freshness. Microscopic anthems are followed by unbridled free outbursts which could just as easily give way to gruff toad-style swing or an eerie post new age ambience.
At a recent concert in Trondheim during a bewitching period of voodoo-like improvisation, a member of the audience became possessed and began leaping around the room on his stool. After returning to normality he confessed, "I could't tell which of us started it... the chair or me!"
Food appeared at the Cheltenham Festival on April 11th. To premiere a specially commissioned new menu of music for the occasion which coincided with the release of this debut CD recording for the Feral label - the highlights of their acclaimed first performances at Molde.
Tracks
01. Mister Train (Out) (Ballamy/Henriksen/Eilertsen/Strønen)
02. Restless (Arve Henriksen)
03. Strange Burn (Ballamy/Henriksen/Eilertsen/Strønen)
04. Three Minute Snack (Thomas Strønen)
05. Murring In Bann (Thomas Strønen)
06. A (John Harborne)
07. Stille Veg (Arve Henriksen)
08. My Old Engine (Ballamy/Henriksen/Eilertsen/Strønen/Lyrics by Telling Vanberg)
09. Rat On Stilts III (Iain Ballamy)
10. Mister Train (Rtn) (Ballamy/Henriksen/Eilertsen/Strønen)
MATS EILERTSEN bass
THOMAS STRØNEN drums, percussion
IAIN BALLAMY saxophone
ARVE HENRIKSEN trumpet, vocals
Recorded live at the Molde International Jazz Festival in 16/17 July 1998
Feral Records - ASFA 101