Opening with a stonking bass riff from Dan Berglund on 'The Life and Death of Hugo Drax' Rymden know how to let their hair down (er, where available) and make their presence felt. With ex-e.s.t drummer Magnus Öström once again on board plus keys boffin Bugge Wesseltoft injecting a certain prog-jazz dare I say dadjazz urgency the tracks groove along merrily, it's as if the guys are tinkering on a clapped out engine in the garage and suddenly there is a mighty roar as the thing begins to work. Very different to e.s.t. there's less of an introspective side to Rymden, although the band can do subtlety (eg on 'Arriving on Ramajay Pt 1') the three finding a lot of commmon ground amid the chunky riffs and buckling up to prepare for those burning runs. Berglund's practically baroque arco feature on 'Pilgrimstad' is just one of the highlights on an excellent record where the compositions make a lot of sense and the trio know at all times how to communicate better than most. Out on Jazzland.
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