The Squid's Ear Magazine


Angles: A Muted Reality (Clean Feed)

The chameleonic configuration of Angles is here an octet, in a powerfully building and passionate set of three recordings performed by Martin Kuchen (alto sax), Magnus Broo & Goran Kajfes (trumpets), Mats Aleklint (trombone), Mattias Stahl (vibraphone), Alexander Zethson (piano & synth), Konrad Agnas (drums) and Johan Berthling (double bass); exemplary.
 

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Personnel:



Magnus Broo-trumpet

Goran Kajfes-trumpet, Maestro soundsystem

Johan Berthling-double bass

Konrad Agnas-drums

Mats Aleklint-trombone, sousaphone

Mattias Stahl-vibraphone

Alexander Zethson-piano, synthesizer

Martin Kuchen-alto saxophone


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UPC: 5609063006001

Label: Clean Feed
Catalog ID: CF600
Squidco Product Code: 32123

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2022
Country: Portugal
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded at BAS, Bandhagen, in Stockholm, Sweden, on April 22nd, 2021, by Martin Jonsson and Mats Aleklint.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"A band of many configurations, from trio to tentet, this time Martin Kuchen's Angles work with a 8-piece format the formulas you already know of pathos, playfulness, energy and bliss, but in renovated ways because the project is never fulfilled, never completed, as any investigative process should be.

The music inside A Muted Reality comes from the heritage of Charles Mingus and Carla Bley, drinks from the ensemble ideas of Chris McGregor for his Brotherhood of Breath, and incorporates melodical aspects of the Swedish and Balcanic folk musics and rhythmical foundations in West Africa. The results are astonishing, going from the very simple to the grandiose, the detailed, sound centered, to the theatrical, the strictly organized to free-blowing improvisations, all of this with a big band sense of musicality, as if there's many more participants in action.

"An emotional roller coaster", wrote critic Guy Peters about this exhilarating proposal now one more time renewed. To Kuchen, geometry is infinite, open to unsuspected angles and material possibilities."-Clean Feed


Artist Biographies

"Magnus Broo (born 27 June 1965 in Husqvarna, Västervik, Småland, Sweden) is a Swedish jazz musician (trumpet) known from own recordings and collaboration with Norwegian jazz musicians like in the band Atomic.

Broo is the son of trumpeter, raised in Västervik, and participated in Visby big band before he attended musical training at North Texas State University (1984-1990). Back in Sweden, he was incorporated into Fredrik Norén Band (1991-1999), and also collaborated in the orchestra of Lennart Åberg.

Broo's expression is a continuation of free jazz and Ornette Coleman's style from the 1960'th, and he is central in the Norwegian/Swedish band Atomic (1999-). He also leads his own 'Magnus Broo Quartet with Torbjörn Gulz on piano, Mattias Welin on bass and Jonas Holgersson on drums. They released the albums Sudden Joy (1999), Levitaton (2001), Sugar Promise(2003) and Pain Body (2008). Moreover, he also collaborates in Fredrik Nordström Quintet."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Broo)
4/28/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Goran Kajfes, born 22 June 1970 in Tyreso Assembly, is a Swedish trumpeter. Kajfeš is the son of Davor Kajfeš.

Goran has worked with, among others, Eric Gadd, Stina Nordenstam, Fläskkvartetten, Kent, The Tiny, Bruno K. Öijer, Neneh Cherry, Robyn, Mando Diao, Lester Bowie, Blacknuss, Sugababes, Nicolai Dunger, Håkan Hellström, Janet Jackson, Moneybrother, Freddie Wadling, José González, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Eric Malmberg, Club Killers, Monica Zetterlund, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Eldkvarn, Matti Bye and Bo Diddley, The Thing XL, weeping willows, Cheik Lo.

Solo debut Home (2000) was released on the EMI (Kaza / Blue Note) and a lot of attention for his mix of jazz and electronics. Sequel HeadSpin won a Grammy (2004). The third album, X / Y (2010) was nominated for this year's jazz album in The Independent, and was hailed around the world including magazine Mojo. He was also awarded the Nordic Music Prize for the disc. After the album was released (with his Subtropic Arkestra) The Reason Why Vol.1 (2012) and most recently, The Reason Why Vol. 2 (2014). Both featured in Mojo, Uncut, Songlines, The Wire, Jazz Journal and so on.

Kajfeš is also featured in the jazz group Oddjob, together with among others Per "Ruskträsk" Johansson and Daniel Karlsson, who has released six full-length albums (Amigo Music, ACT, Headspin Recordings) and beyond that also Grammy Award winning children's album Jazzoo. He is also a member of the free jazz band Nacka Forum (Moserobie Records) with Kjell Nordeson, Jonas Kullhammar and Johan Berthling, Angles 9, Fire! Orchestra, Magnus Carlson & The Moon Ray Quintet and skabandet Jobalites.

He runs the record company Headspin Recordings, with David Österberg.

Kajfeš has also composed music for films and television series including Kristian Petri's The Well documentaries and feature films Details, The Mouse of Bigert Bergstrom, The Sun of Ulf Rollof, vignette music to the SVT Cobra, All wild, a film about Birgitta Stenberg, Havana Motor Club by Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt. He has written and performed music for Saw The White Buffalo Dancing with dance group Vindhäxor.

Oddjob The group performed a large part of the music (composed by Matti Bye) to the hundred year old who climbed out the window and disappeared.

Kajfeš produced weeping willows albums The Time Has Come, Magnus Carlson and the Moon Ray quintet and most of Titiyos album Hidden.

In 2014 asked Kajfeš in collaboration with David Osterberg audio installation Batysphere on Färgfabriken."

-Wikipedia translated by Google (https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goran_Kajfe )
4/28/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Johan Berthling (* 1973 in Stockholm ) is a Swedish jazz and improvisational musician ( contrabass , electric bass , also piano ).

Berthling studied at the Royal Music College in Stockholm from 1996-1998 . Since then, he has worked in the Swedish and international jazz and improvisation scene in various ensembles including David Stackenäs , Raymond Strid , Fredrik Ljungkvist , Sten Sandell , Paal Nilssen-Love , Akira Sakata , Mats Gustafsson , Jonas Kullhammar and the Christer Bothén Acoustic Ensemble. In the field of jazz, he was involved in 23 recording sessions between 1996 and 2014. He also worked with folkmusicist and songwriter Nicolai Dunger ( roasting och herren , 2007)."

-Wikipedia translated by Google (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Berthling)
4/28/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Konrad Agnas is a Swedish drummer, son of Urban Agnas. He is known for the groups Agnas Bros., Johan Lindstršm Septett, Alberto Pinton Noi Siamo, and Swap Babies.

-Discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/4677324-Konrad-Agnas)
4/28/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Mats Aleklint is a freelance trombone player, born 1979, that lives in Stockholm, Sweden.

I work mostly in the fields of improvisation and jazz, but also blues, soul, theater music, pop and rock. I have been working as a freelance since the year 2000, and touring in Sweden, Norway, Canada, Slovenia, Portugal, England, Germany, and many other countries. Toured with/Recorded with: Alberto Pinton Quintet, YunKan10, Torbjörn Zetterberg Octet, Norrbotten Big Band, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Dave Holland, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Goran Kajfes Subtropic Arkestra, The Thing XXL, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Brus Trio+2, Big Band Splash, Per-Henrik Wallin, Harmonica Henry, Lisa Ullén Quartet, Blacknuss, Angles, Je Suis!, All Included, LED, and many many others. I also have a band of my own, Mats Äleklint Kvartett."

-Mats Aleklint Website (http://www.matsaleklint.com/?page_id=7)
4/28/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Mattias is born 1971 in Oskarshamn, Sweden and lives in Stockholm. Have the latest 15 years performed at stages around Sweden and elsewhere, focusing on jazz and improvised music. Released two album of his own with his former quartet Ståhls blå ("Ståhls blå" 2001 and "Schlachtplatte" 2004), which achieved great attention from reviewers all over the world. He also composed all the music for this group. As a sideman he contributes in a lot of exciting groups, from projects with the legend Georg Riedel to collaborations with the swedish indie wonder Emil Svanängen aka Loney Dear. Also: Cecilia Persson Quintet, Martin Küchens group Angles, IPA with Magnus Broo/Atle Nymo/Håkon Mjåseth Johansen/Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Daniel Buner Formos Formo Tre&Metall and different projects with Trondheim Jazzorkester. Other groups where he contributed during the years are Eirik Hegdals Team Hegdal, Joakim Milders Takeaway, Lennart Åberg:s big and small orchestras, Nils Berg 5 (Jazz in Sweden Award 2007), Alberto Pinton Quintet, Yttling Jazz (with Bjorn Yttling from "Peter, Bjorn and John"), Fredrik Nordström Quintet (Jazz in Sweden Award 2002), Klaus Holm Kollektif. He has been the vibist of the swingtronica-duo Koop since 2001, touring all over the world. He has also played with groups as Jet Set Sweden och Sven Berggrens Alea. He recieved the Swedish Radio Award 2002 as newcomer of the year for his album "Ståhls blå"."

-Mattias Stahl Website (http://mattiasstahl.com/)
4/28/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Alexander Zethson has completed the bachelor performance programme in jazz at KMH and is currently studying at the second year of the master's programme with Lisa Ullén as his primary instrument teacher.

Alexander has participated in extensive concert and tour activities and has participated in fifteen record productions. The ensembles include:

• Niklas Barnö's free jazz group Je Suis!• A number of tours in Europe with Martin Küchen's group Angles 9

Alexander is also active as arranger and pianist in collaboration with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, a cooperation which began in 2011. Zethson, Sofia Jernberg and Lene Grenager has arranged music from Hallingdal and Røros performed by the TJO with Zethson, Jernberg and violinist/Hardanger fiddler Olav Luksengård Mjelva."

-KMH Royal College of Music in Stockholm (https://www.kmh.se/alexander-zethson-received-the-rosenborg-gehrmans-scholarship)
4/28/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Born 1966; saxophones. Martin Küchen has been active on the Swedish free improvised/free jazz scene since the mid-1990s. He has composed for larger groups, participated in dance projects, performed with different poets and created the music for experimental films. He now collaborates with improvisors all over Europe and USA/Canada. His current collaborations include:

Angles - a new trio with Ingebrigt Håker- Flaten, doublebass, Kjell Nordeson, drums and Martin Küchen, saxophones. Exploding Customer - a free jazz quartet with Tomas Hallonsten trumpet, Benjamin Quigley double bass and Kjell Nordeson drums, which plays mainly original compositions. Sound of Mucus - a trio with the stringchordist Herman Müntzing and Andreas Axelsson, percussion. Unsolicited Music Ensemble - a trio with Tony Wren, double bass and Raymond Strid, percussion. a duo with guitarist David Stackenås. UNSK: Birgit Ulher, Martin Küchen, lise-Lott Norelius and Raymond Strid. Looper - a trio with Greek cello player Nikos Veliotis and Norwegian percussionist Ingar Zach."

-European Free Improv Site (http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/musician/mkuchen.html)
4/28/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Muted Reality 15:38

2. The Hidden Balcony 13:41

3. Fkk Down, Fkk Off 09:07

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Octet Recordings
Mats Gustafsson
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