Hess Is More – 80 Years (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 46:14 minutes | 552 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Edition Records
Led by Danish drummer Mikkel Hess, Hess Is More has built a strong following for their unique instrumentation and unorthodox arrangements, combining elements of jazz, electronica, Scandinavian folk, soundtrack music and classic pop – blended with a playfully melodic and decidedly humorous sensibility. Their new album, 80 years, features a wealth of collaborators, including East Coast Inspirational Singers, Rune Olesen and jazz legend Tom Harrel.
This is Danish drummer Mikkel Hess’s seventh album with his Hess Is More outfit, but his first for the ever-outward looking Edition Records label. In truth, 80 Years may not be everyone’s cup of tea, at least, not all of it. However in the midst of this marriage of Kraftwerk-esque synth pop and Carl Orff-like cantata there are some moments of exquisite jazz. Following the two initial synth- plus-singing tracks of the “80 Years” suite, the first intimation that there is any link to jazz occurs on “80 Years Part III” courtesy of Tom Harrell’s echo-enhanced, bluesy trumpet cadenza. Harrell is also notably heard on “Recollection of 80 Years,” again unaccompanied. “Chopin,” at 9 minutes the longest track, is arguably the most engaging piece, underpinned by a steady 4/4 pulse, it’s overlaid with all manner of electronica and the sporadic choral interjections of the East Coast Inspirational Singers.
Tracklist:
01. Hess Is More – 80 Years, Pt. I (05:00)
02. Hess Is More – 80 Years, Pt. II (03:32)
03. Hess Is More – 80 Years, Pt. III (02:09)
04. Hess Is More – Chopin (09:04)
05. Hess Is More – Recollection of 80 Years (01:37)
06. Hess Is More – It’s Backwards No Matter What I Do, Pt. I (05:12)
07. Hess Is More – It’s Backwards No Matter What I Do, Pt. II (05:23)
08. Hess Is More – It’s Backwards No Matter What I Do, Pt. III (07:31)
09. Hess Is More – It’s Backwards No Matter What I Do, Pt. IV (03:47)
10. Hess Is More – You May (02:55)
