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Hamada, meaning dead or inanimate, is an Arabic word also used to describe desert rock without sand or water. The term suits Molvaer's parched mournfulness very well and acknowledges the influence of Middle Eastern music on the Norwegian trumpeter, but it's also a little counterintuitive because Hamada sees Molvaer successfully explore new territory after a period of relative inactivity. Hamada has an impressively cohesive structure. The music begins hushed and blue before gradually building to the first of two climaxes on Friction. After further passages of murmured ambience, the group roars into life again on the howling, eight-minute Cruel Altitude and then gradually cedes to silence via the solo Lahar. The peaks are remarkably thrilling, as though Molvaer had summoned angry djinn to wreak vengeance on the listener. The djinn is guitarist Eivind Aarset, who can be favorably compared to Pete Cosey, Miles Davis' fiery lead guitarist in the 70s, and Audun Erlien whose drumming drives the music irresistibly forward. Aarset is also bewitching for his delicate tonal work on the trilogy of Monocline, Monocline Revisited and Anticline, which brings to mind the colours of John Singer Sargent's painting Carnation, Lily, Lily Rose or the glowing indigos of Avatar's alien botany. Alongside the beauty of the sound, the contrast between the passages of anger and melancholy is key to creating the album's sense of drama. Hamada is Nils Petter Molvaer's ninth album as leader, taking into account two remix compilations, a live album and a collection of film music, not to mention his numerous contributions to projects by Marilyn Mazur, Bill Laswell, Hector Zazou and many others. It delivers on the promise of his 1997 debut, Khmer, and marks Molvaer out as a highly original composer/stylist with the courage to radically reinvent himself. --Colin Buttimer
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Along with Jan Garbarek, Tomasz Stanko and, of course, Esbjorn Svensson Trio, Nils Molvaer has been playing Eurojazz trumpet (aka Nordic, Fjordic and Sacndo Jazz) for many years. This is one of his most mature, subtle and haunting albums to date - at least on a par with Khmer, if not better. At last I understand the "Professional" reviewers who talk about "the spaces inbetween" notes. It is so atmospheric that even if you're trying to read while listening - a specific playlist on my ipod - you stop and replay a track because some tonal echo just keeps bouncing around until you do. The nearest sound like it is possibly Tord Gustavvson's new quartet album or Andy Shepard's Moving Images. It bears repeated listenings to fully appreciate its nuances, but each time I think I'm listening to something new. If you like this, try mindblowing new french trio Bleu. Hamada is a great investment.
Format:Audio CD
Admittedly, it doesn't usually take much time for most albums within the loose category of Nordic/Euro-jazz to resonate with me. As has been mentioned, if anyone likes, for instance, Jan Garbarek and Tord Gustavsen then my guess is that the same would apply to this album. My only downside thoughts on this otherwise excellent recording is the track aptly named "Friction"; it's too rock orientated and electronics sounding for me - hence the four star rating. The rest of the album needs no such perseverance and short-time toleration in just letting ones mind travel to spacious Norwegian landscapes and Nils' trumpet acting as a guide.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
There must be something in the water in Scandinavia,for the conglomoration of Norway,Sweden and Finland has in the past created some astonishing music.
Never afraid to experiment,Molvaer creates vast electronic soundscapes which vere from the ambient to heavy guitar rock,Molvaer continues the journey that first started with "Kmer"all those years ago.
This is not easy listening,but persevere and you will be rewarded,with a masterclass of how the trumpet should be played.
Never afraid to experiment,Molvaer creates vast electronic soundscapes which vere from the ambient to heavy guitar rock,Molvaer continues the journey that first started with "Kmer"all those years ago.
This is not easy listening,but persevere and you will be rewarded,with a masterclass of how the trumpet should be played.
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