Himmelrand

Norway's 2L label has gained a following with releases that are distinctive in two ways: the programs they present tend to be rooted in folk and traditional music to an unusual degree, and they are recorded with well-beyond-the-norm audio fidelity. The Grammy-nominated Himmelrand (the word means "horizon" and is taken from one of the hymns included) may seem esoteric, and it is good to see a 2L product gaining such major recognition.

In his fusion of jazz, international pop, and modernist styles, Norwegian saxophonist and composer Trygve Seim appears to have neutralized the potency and potentiality of his varied influences and produced for this 2004 CD an unsatisfying hybrid. Constrained solos, uninfectious rhythms, murky ensemble textures, and solemn harmonic progressions make this album quite funereal in tone and almost lifeless in content. Once one has heard Seim's unusual instrumental palette – reeds and brass, with accordion, strings, and percussion used sparingly for color – there are few other features that will surprise or retain interest.