By Sammy Stein
I first heard Lars Fiil in 2017. His album, Reconsideration (2011), was
nominated for a Danish Music Award Jazz, and he has since released
internationally acclaimed albums with the projects Frit Fald and Fiil Free,
as well as with oud virtuoso Bilal Irshed. He has also contributed to over
fifteen releases as a sideman and is a regular member of the indie-jazz
group I Think You’re Awesome, which tours worldwide.
After hearing Fiil and reviewing some of his music, I invited him to
perform at The London Jazz Platform festival where he proved an engaging
and well-received guest. Now, Lars steps into uncharted territory with his
album New Ground set to release on November 1st, 2024. It is Fiil’s
seventh release as band leader, and he has a new band comprising Nicolai
Kaas Claesson (Horse Orchestra, Dødens Garderobe) on electric bass and Matt
Carroll (SloGlo, Ohmme) on drums. The band also features prominent guest
appearances from trumpeter Jakob Sørensen (Bagland) and clarinettist
Carolyn Goodwin (Copenhagen Clarinet Choir, Thou Sonic Friend), whose
lyrical and ethereal melodies add additional layers to the group’s
exploratory sound. Together they create a sound that blends acoustic
soundscapes with ambient electronic textures offering a fresh take on
Nordic jazz.
Fiil explains, “This album is about having the courage to venture
into unknown territory while daring to stand firm in who you are and where
you come from as a musician. We wanted to create something that feels both
grounded and forward-looking. We’ve worked on combining acoustic and
electronic elements to create something fresh and challenging, allowing us
to explore new ideas while maintaining a connection to beautiful melodies
and epic storytelling.”
Much about this release captures the imagination, from the shimmering
effects, off-kilter drumbeats, delicate piano melodies, and soft
synthesizer pads. From the ethereal ‘Look Up’ to the delicate melodies of
‘Around US’ the music, from the start is a journey through different moods.
The listener is immersed in imaginative sound waves that lift, gently
release, and capture the mind.
There are moments of magic like the entrancing ‘A Question of Time’ where
the off-kilter rhythms are contrasted by a pervasive melodic backdrop and
the clarinet intersperses melody in rounded tones and beautiful runs. The
slightly held final beat to each bar is a masterstroke, contrasting as it
does with the steadfast timekeeping of the clarinet.
There is music for every mood such as the relaxed intonations on ‘It is
What It Is’ or the dark contrasts of ‘New Ground’ and there are tracks
where explorative directions are taken by the ensemble members, like on ‘So
We Say Goodbye. ‘Epilogue’ is glorious and probably the freest track on the
album yet it, like the rest of the tracks, adheres to traditional concepts
of music creation. An almost classical lineage is adhered to, so the
listener is ensconced among the familiarity of traditional musical lines
while also exposed to free spontaneity – such as the crashes that
intersperse the final track when least expected.
This beautifully conceived album nods to classical music, jazz, and
spontaneous creativity. Fiil has taken a bold step down a different path
with this music, successfully blending various elements of his stylistic
playing, all backed by an ensemble that understands the musical intent.