Review: 1982 and BJ Cole – S/T

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1982 andBJ Cole – S/T (Hubro)1982 is a Norwegian Improvisatory trio that comprisesNils Økland (Hardanger fiddle, violin), Sigbjorn Apeland (harmonium) and ØyvindSkarbo (drums). For some time they’d been considering playing with a guestmusician in order to explore new terrain and after a chance meeting, Øklanddecided BJ Cole should be such a guest.
BJ Cole has been an active Pedal Steel guitarist –crossing genres from pop and rock to jazz and the avant garde - for fourdecades, and has staggering credentials, having worked with T-Rex, Bjork,Sting, Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Iggy Pop, REM, Brian Eno, Luke Vibert, DavidSylvian, and Roy Harper, amongst others.
The amalgamated quartet spent one day in 1982’s usualGreighallen studio freely improvising with occasional random ideas or differenttunings leading the way. As no track names are given, just durations, the albumshould be considered as a whole and it is the unique juxtaposition that makesit so interesting.
Økland plays a traditional Hardanger fiddle, which issimilar to a violin but includes four or five sympathetic strings, which arenot bowed but add resonance to its sound.
Although often associated with Country music Coleemploys a number of devices (including ring modulator, Ebow, Leslie simulator,sitar simulator and MIDI interface) to extend the sonic scope of his instrument.To this mix add the ecclesiastical harmonium and drums and you have a totallyinimitable musical blend.
Be it in places jazzier, in others scratchier orrecalling the widescreen of Ry Cooder’s Paris Texas soundtrack, all in all theoutput provides a curious intersection between Americana, folk music, religiousmusic, jazz, ambience, soundtrack and occasional flirtations with sci-fi.www.1982trio.comwww.bjcole.co.ukwww.hubromusic.comWillsk