Conspiracy

As a whole, Conspiracy is a compelling set of musical environments brought forth by Rypdal's gifts for lyricism and improvisation as his band reflect textural imagination and consummate musicality. — AllMusic, September 2020, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 18th Sep 2020
Catalogue No: 0711630
Label: ECM

Jazzwise

Editor's Choice

November 2020
AllMusic

Editor's Choice

September 2020

As If the Ghost Was Me!?

What Was I Thinking

Conspiracy

By His Lonesome

Baby Beautiful

Dawn

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The sonic signature of Terje Rypdal is unmistakable - the yearning, skywards-slanting sustains which introduce his new album could not be anyone else. Available on both CD and LP. On Conspiracy the Norwegian electric guitarist - Terje likes to emphasise the electric - reconnects with the inspiration that fuelled such early masterpieces as Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away, Odyssey and Waves, exploring the potential of his instrument with both a rock improviser's love of raw energy and a composer's feeling for space and sound-colour. Conspiracy, recorded at Oslo's Rainbow Studio is Terje's first new ECM studio album in two decades and is cause for celebration. His other 21st century recordings have, to date, drawn upon live sources. The clarity and depth of the new production, and the panoramic sweep of the music, invite the listener to explore the grain, the detail and the texture of its enveloping sounds up close. Keyboardist Stale Storlkken, who contributed to Terje's Vossabrygg and Crime Scene albums is an ideal co-conspirator, perpetually thickening the plot with his own intuitive feeling for complementary sound-colours. Conspiracy also marks a welcome return for Pal Thowsen, whose subtle, detailed drumming was last heard on ECM with Arild Andersen's 1970s groups. Rypdal's best band in years is completed by gifted young bass guitarist Endre Hareide Hallre. Personnel: Terje Rypdal: electric guitar; Stale Storlkken: keyboards; Endre Hareide Hallre: bass, fretless bass; Pal Thowsen: drums and percussion. 'Conspiracy' was recorded at Oslo's Rainbow Studio and produced by Manfred Eicher and Terje Rypdal.

Reviews

September 2020

As a whole, Conspiracy is a compelling set of musical environments brought forth by Rypdal's gifts for lyricism and improvisation as his band reflect textural imagination and consummate musicality.

November 2020

There can be lyrical moments like Hallreide’s yearning fretless meditation against Storlokken’s churchish organ on ‘By His Lonesome’. Or Rypdal’s musings with those oh so sustained notes on ‘Baby Beautiful’. But there’s also the hellish breakdown while striving for heaven’s gate on the remorseless title track, or the ominous ‘Dawn’ which instead of welcoming a bright day feels more like a wound that bleeds afresh.

December 2020

The liquid, probing sustain of his playing remains instantly recognizable, but apart from the title track, where the band builds up a serious head of steam—with Supersilent mainstay Ståle Storløkken providing seething Hammond B-3 swells and bassist Endre Hareide Hallre carving out a roiling groove with veteran drummer Pål Thowsen—most of the album embraces a meditative, searching repose.

Conspiracy

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Conspiracy

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