In The Country This Was The Pace Of My Heartbeat CD - Import

This Was the Pace of My Heartbeat was marketed as Rune Grammofon's first jazz release. It's a debatable case (the Scorch Trio's first CD surely was not far from the jazz realm), but In the Country's debut is certainly the label's most mainstream release up to this point. Led by pianist Morten Qvenild, the man responsible for the smooth musical arrangements of the project Susannah and the Magical Orchestra, this trio takes its cue from the soft-spoken piano trios of the bop era. There's a bit of Charles Mingus in the writing and a touch of Lennie Tristano in the phrasing, but the group is successful at developing a personal sound, mainly through the use of extended techniques (some prepared piano and creative drumming). Qvenild's use of vibraphone overdubs enhances the late-night lounge feel of the music, while drummer Pål Hausken adds a certain level of quiet unrest by bowing and scraping cymbals. Paces are very slow and pensive, but light. Qvenild does not come through as a phenomenal pianist, but then again the context would be ill-suited for a display of virtuosity. The focus remains solely on melody, even though there is more going on underneath it than what meets the ear at first, and the listener is invited to let himself or herself get carried away on the gentle ripples of the trio's tunes. Highlights include the tender "How to Get Acquainted," "Aerial Dark Bright Round," in which a timpani roll and a few percussive notes of prepared piano are enough to renew In the Country's palette, and the yearning "Viggo," featuring timid yet moving vocals from Hausken in a style that is strongly reminiscent of Arve Henriksen's wordless ballads. Incidentally, Supersilent's trumpeter co-produced the album with the trio. ~ François Couture

'This Was The Pace Of My Heartbeat' is not your typical piano trio album, meaning that Qvenild has certain fondness for Paul Bley and the late Norwegian free player Svein Finnerud, and modern composers such as Messiaen and Feldman for the use of space and sound. Includes 9 original Qvenild compositions as well as a Ryan Adams cover and an interpretation of Handel's beautiful 'Laschia Ch io Pianga'. The album is an analogue recording and is produced by Arve Henriksen. Touch. 2005.

Audio Mixers: Morten Qvenild; Rune Kristoffersen; Janne Hansson.

Recording information: Atlantis Studio (12/07/2004-12/08/2004).

Arranger: In the Country.

In the Country: Morten Qvenild (piano, keyboards, vibraphone); Roger Arntzen (double bass); Pål Hausken.

Personnel: Pål Hausken (vocals, autoharp, drums, timpani, percussion); Morten Qvenild (grand piano); Roger Arntzen (double bass).

JazzTimes (p.101) - "Qvenild's mixture of jazz phrasing, classical sensibilities and love of songcraft leads In The Country through 11 songs that rarely rise above a whisper but carry the emotional power of a screaming stack of Marshall amps."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.98) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A]ll is deceptively innocent, a fairy tale trip from hazy sunrise to 'round midnight, illuminated by moments of bright, autumnal clarity."