The Way Ahead is a Swedish/Norwegian septet co-led by Andre Roligheten (reeds and the majority of composition) and Tolief Ostvang (drums) that, as the title suggests, take their cues from the canon of Albert Ayler album title, while borrowing their monicker from an LP by Archie Shepp (1968, Impulse!).

Indeed it's Shepp I'm reminded of at the outset, as a tenor sax gargles and spits over hanging vibraphone chords. This opening tune (penned by Ostvang) has an interesting structure built on layered repeating motifs that occasionally disintegrate to allow for solos plus rhythm, before a swinging horn line protrudes. Elsewhere on the disc a faint reminiscence of Ornette appears in the sing-song melodies of "Lakenskrek" (Lake Fright ?) and "Headway Heat". Overall the ensemble sound is more Free-Dixieland than the tone smear and bray of the 1960's, but I believe it's the forms that interest here, bent as they are on building a music of something other than circular chord changes while maintaining the feel of jazz.

"Takefyrste" (Fog Prince ?) is a softer, more lyrical excursion, with the vibes chording under and around a slow unison horn line. "Molefunken" is a pastorale keyed on romantic vibraphone and rumbling toms, with a searching clarinet solo from Roligheten. It seems fitting that the title tune bears the most resemblance to Ayler's music. A familiar sounding unison head full of bathos empties into a confluence of twisting horn lines, then re-appears before the solos start. When the head re-enters it seems just a tad more unhinged. One wonders if the group will continue on in this vein.