Best of 2019 #66: Mats Eilertsen – “Reveries and Revelations”

Mats Eilertsen has been responsible for all kinds of fascinating music, so it’s no small thing to say that Reveries and Revelations is arguably his most compelling work to date.  It’s a series of de facto duo sessions performed in isolation.  The bassist recorded pieces in his own home studio, and then sent the music to a handful of collaborators to perform their own music along to it.  In turn, they sent that music back to him, and thus began the final stage of putting it all together into something of a sonic collage.  Eilertsen retains the minimalist aspect of the music, and never lets the recreation become something illogical or untraceable back to the solitary nature of this music.  And yet, he generates a large presence with these pieces, something that transcends the first blush impression of introspection and peaceful tones.  It is not unlike how sparse noises seem to roar out from the quiet black of night… almost as if silence is the best reflective surface for huge sounds to incubate.  There’s also an intimacy to this music, and seems to belie the claim that the musicians were miles apart when making their contributions to the final product.  All of it comes together for one of the most compelling works of 2019.

Your album personnel:  Mats Eilertsen (double bass, electric bass, acoustic bass guitar, guitar, harmonium, keyboard), and guests: Geir Sundstøl (guitar, national guitar, banjo), Eivind Aarset (guitar), Thomas Strønen (drums, percussion, electronics), Per Oddvar Johansen (snare drum) and Arve Henriksen (trumpet).

Released on Hubro Music.

Music from Oslo, Norway.

I wrote about the album for The Bandcamp Daily.

Listen | Read more | Available at:  Bandcamp – Amazon