9

AMG Review of 9

Phil Freeman
All Music Guide

Norwegian avant-garde quartet Supersilent lost drummer Jarle Vespestad at the end of 2008, and rather than replace him (their music having never been particularly rhythm-driven), they opted to continue on as a trio. However, in so doing they all abandoned their own musical comfort zones to one degree or another. 9 was recorded over the course of three days at Henie Onstad arts center, outside Oslo, and finds each of the three remaining members -- Arve Henriksen, best-known as a trumpeter; Helge Sten (electronics, keyboards, guitar); and keyboardist Stĺle Storlřkken -- playing Hammond organ and nothing else. This could be a recipe for ultimate tedium, but it's not. These guys stray far away from the Jimmy Smith/Larry Young school of Hammond playing, and instead head into a subterranean cave network of near-ambient interplay reminiscent of classic, early Tangerine Dream titles like Zeit and Atem. The disc's four minimally titled tracks ("9.1" through "9.4") offer lots of oozing and throbbing, with just a few hints of melody here and there. Highly recommended even to Supersilent newcomers.