Label: ECM Records, 2024
Personnel - Trygve Seim: tenor and soprano saxophone; Frode Haltli: accordion.
Effortlessly navigating between folk-inspired melodies and open drift, the Norwegian duo of saxophonist Trygve Seim and accordionist Frode Haltli returns with Our Time, their second collaborative release following their 2008 debut Yeraz. The duo exhibits a sharp-eared empathy for diverse, world-inspired sounds, infusing each track with unique energy and churning detail, all while maintaining their characteristically lyrical approach.
This distinctive synergy is apparent from the outset. Haltli’s “Du, Mi Tid” plunges into a folk-ambient soundscape, exuding transcendent beauty. The delicate saxophone lines soar over shimmering layers of accordion, a design that continues on “Improvisation No. 1/Fanfare”, where the duo evokes distant worlds through a blend of cries and whispers. A buzzing, cyclical pattern leads to the pure melody of Seim’s “Fanfare”, a piece emotionally heightened by the musicians’ deeply felt intonation.
Seim’s “Arabian Tango” is delivered with fervent passion, while the traditional Ukrainian lullaby “Oy Khodyt Son, Kolo Vikon” serves as a soothing balm, flowing graciously as upper register soprano melodies spool out leisurely. The duo arranged this piece with the harpist Ruth Potter, a member of the Trondheim Symphonic Orchestra.
The album takes a detour into North Indian folk with “Improvisation No. 2/Shyama Sundara Madana Mohana”, yet it’s the brief, free take on Stravinsky’s “Le Cinq Doigts No. 5” that stands out. Here, modern classical elements are transformed into a philosophical dialogue, further intensified in “Improvisation No. 4”, where it grows dramatically interesting. Haltli’s rippling, enigmatic accompaniment in this piece has the power to transport listeners to another realm. The album closes with “Elegi”, a mournful chant delivered with deep-seated melancholy.
Having played together for nearly a quarter of a century, Seim and Haltli’s deep musical connection is evident in their well-versed exploration of texture and melody. Our Time is a work that may leave some purists of sound sighing with pleasure, a testament to the depth of their artistic expression.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Du, Mi Tid ► 02 - Improvisation No. 1 / Fanfare ► 07 - Improvisation No. 4 / Les Cinq Doigts No. 5