So, you know beforehand what you're going to get from this blue-eyed, blonde guitarist from Oslo. Ambient sounds, programmed African rhythms, hints of melodic pop lines alternating with white noise. But most vitally, somewhere in the mix, actual instruments are being played. It sounds like a cross between Nils Petter Molvaer (with whom Aarset has worked with) and instrumental Porcupine Tree with some atmospherics thrown in here and there. Aarset is a fine guitarist but he doesn't hot dog it on his axe; he's more into creating textures, moods and grooves. Some might be tempted to call Sonic Codex an On The Corner updated for the 21st century. Nah, it's too listenable to describe it quite that way, but the debt is clearly owed.
Neil Larsen Orbit
Neil Larsen isn't a household name, but he's been around greatness a lot for someone who isn't widely known outside of musician circles. That's because when greatness has needed a session kayboard player, they often reach out to him: George Harrison, Dan Fogelberg, Rickie Lee Jones and Kenny Loggins are just a handful of big names who've hired him out at one time or another. Maybe staying gainfully employed as a keyboard-for-hire so consistently is why Larsen hadn't felt a need to put out his own records that often.
My first exposure to his solo material was the High Gear LP I picked up in the cutout bin around 1983, which was already some four years old at the time. It was some competent stuff and occasionally rose up to more than just competent, but the record didn't make me want to rush out and get the two or three other Larsen records I was missing, either. Well, until now. Orbit is really a "Best Of" type of record with the songs remade live in the studio. All of which makes it his first record that makes a perfect introduction into his music and probably the only Larsen you'll ever need.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Porcupine Tree instrumental atmospherics? I may just have to check out this Caspar Brötzmann dude...
-Glen
2 - Mark Saleski
hmmm, sounds like i've gotta check out this Eivind Aarset person.
never heard of that Metheny guy.
3 - Pico
Metheny is that dude who once stated he'd wrap a guitar around Kenny G's head if he ever met him ;&)
4 - Tom Johnson
I didn't know David Spade was a nu-jazz guitarist. "Yeah, I played nu-jazz . . . when it was called fusion." Sorry, just trying to come up with something that would sound like a Spade quip.
5 - Pico
Ha! I figured that the PT reference would get Glen's and TJ's attention and I was right ;&)
6 - Mark Saleski
Day Trip isn't blow-you-away good...
heathen.
7 - Glen Boyd
Sounds like Pico is trying to coax Kenny G's assistant out of hiding...
-Glen
8 - Pico
"never heard of that Metheny guy."
"heathen."
you got up to speed on Metheny mighty fast ;&)
9 - MikeyPlaya
"Maceo Parker always has it down tight. I saw him live a few years back and never forgot it. He is playing horns on Teddy Brents single Vanity.
Love live James Brown *crowd chant*"
----- ChildofDestiny, how true how true. I got that song by Brent on Itunes