Danish, Oslo-based hyperactive alto sax participant Signe Krunderup Emmeluth
appears to be all around the map. She leads her Danish-Norwegian quartet
Emmeluth’s Aooeba, co-leads the Owl duo (with companion guitarist Karl
Bjorå) and the brand new quintet Bonanza of Doom; She performs in Mats
Gustafsson’s Fireplace! Orchestra, Paal Nilssen’s Love’s Circus, Gard
Nilssen’s Supersonic Orchestra, Andreas Røysum Ensemble and the
Trondheim Jazz Orchestra; and excursions with Belgian baritone sax participant
Hanne De Backer and with The Ex’ guitarists – Terrie Hesserls and Andy
Moor.

Signe Emmeluth – BANSHEE (Motvind, 2024) 

The Norwegian Vossajazz Pageant commissioned the composition BANSHEE
from Emmeluth and it was premiered by a seven-musician ensemble within the
2022 version of the competition, and later carried out in different venues in
Norway. A banshee is a legendary determine from Irish folklore that heralds
dying, destruction and grief with a shrill scream and highly effective voice,
however Emmeluth sees this composition as a “fearless story of presence and
moments” and a solution to come into contact with the time that flies by, as
dying reminds us of life. By composing BANSHEE, Emmeluth asks what we
wish to expertise whereas we exist. What did we go away behind? Are we
truly current?

The ensemble featured uncompromising and skilled feminine musicians
who labored collectively for the primary time, and all sing and scream –
Emmeluth on alto sax and electronics, Maja S. Ok. Ratkje on vocals,
electronics and violin, Guro Skumsnes Moe (of MoE) on electrical bass and
double bass, Heiða Karine Jóhannesdóttir Mobeck (who performed in
Emmeluth’s Spacemusic Ensemble) on tuba and electronics, (Lithuanian,
Oslo-based) Guostė Tamulynaitė on piano and synth, Anne “Efternøler”
Andersson on trumpet, and Jennifer Torrence on percussion and vibes.

The album BANSHEE is a revised model of the composition, produced into
a vinyl-length album. At occasions, it sounds prefer it updates the rebellious
but uplifting spirit of one other, iconic feminine ensemble, Les Diaboliques
(Swiss pianist Irene Schweizer, French double bass player-vocalist
Joëlle Léandre, and British vocal artistMaggie Nicols). It’s a cycle of
13 stressed and intense fireworks that examine, of their seductive,
subversive and pixie-like method, the bodily facets of communal music
with harmonious voices. On the identical time, this composition additionally affords
acrobatic juggling with components of free jazz, free improv, modern
music, the rhythms and trance tendencies of techno music and noise.

BANSHEE will throw you right into a wild and completely unpredictable experience made
of the wild creativeness of Emmeluth. Probably, on the finish of it, you
will nonetheless ask your self what was this actually about and the way did you get
right here.

Emmeluth’s Amoeba – Nonsense (Moserobie, 2024) 

Nonsense is the third official album of Emmeluth’s Aooeba (Emmeluth
launched independently a solo-out, restricted version of 25 discs of stay
performances from 2022 and 2023). The quartet options the identical line-up
since its inception – Emmeluth is the composer, Norwegian Bjorå and
drummer Ole Mofjell with Danish pianist Christian Balvig. The album is
launched by the Swedish label Moserobie, run by sax participant Jonas
Kullhammar, who performs with Emmeluth in Gard Nilssen’s Supersonic
Orchestra.

The dynamics of the quartet are highly effective and stress the advanced and
stressed but democratic choreography of Emmuleth’s musical dances and
video games. Emmeluth’s Amoeba performs with quick and nearly telepathic interaction
however leaves sufficient area for particular person solos. It usually sounds as if it
is about to break down on the verge of chaos, however all the time retains its
cohesive and coherent core (test the opening piece “Stylish Blip” and the
final one “Are you cross”). Emmuleth, together with her idiosyncratic language and
passionate sax taking part in, is clearly the driving power of this quartet.
You’ll be able to sense how Emmeluth’s compositional concepts are enriched by the
quartet’s concise, typically even subversive improvisations. and the way
these items radiate boundless power and ecstatic emotions. However
Emmeluth’s Aooeba additionally shines additionally on the extra introspective piece like
“Flickering”, or the poetic ballad “Zelda”.

Bonanza of Doom – s/t (Sheep Chase, 2023) 

The quintet Bonanza of Doom options Emmuleth, doubling right here on synth,
guitarist Bjorå and drummer Mofjell of Emmeluth’s Amoeba, bassist Magnus
Skavhaug Nergaard (of Plot Monkey and Delish), who additionally credited with
noise, and drummer Martin Langlie, who doubles on modular synth and did
the duvet paintings (and performs within the folks ensemble Valkyrien Allstars and
the folk-metal band Gåte). Emmuleth, once more, is the power behind this
monster-like unit. This quintet recorded its self-titled album at Hotbox
in Oslo in July 2022.

The music of Bonanza of Doom is extra uncooked and wild. It’s a risky and
uncompromising brew of free jazz, punk, post-rock, no-wave and noise,
pushed to its extremes. Bonanza of Doom takes its time to construct large
partitions of trance and alien-like drone sounds (test the 19-minute
“bonanza of doom (do not die)”), counting on repetitive, hypnotic riffs
and pulses and classic synth sounds. There’s something liberating in
whole give up to such manic sonic assaults with a lot energy and
power that assure to kick off all of your gloom and doom visions (however
will go away you exhausted).