There’s a comforting melodic presence to the sophomore release from the quintet BLAER.  And this, even though Out Of Silence is built on a foundation of repetition and tension.  The twin saxophones of Nils Fischer and Claudio von Arx lay the melody on thick and with a calm patience, lending the music a sweet ambiance and a melancholy tone.  And it stands out in stark contrast to the melodic cross-currents spread across the surface of the songs by pianist Maja Nydegger, who splits time between accentuating the wind instruments and contradicting them.  It’s an evocative feature of the music, the way melodic intentions alternate between a state of unison and detachment.  The bass and drums tandem of Simon Iten and Emanuel Künzi add an additional layer of contrast by syncing up either with saxophones or piano, but never both, so there is always a state of tension present and always complementary textures insinuating some semblance of unity.

“In Passing” and “Caught By Transience” adopt a slow pace and a contemplative tone, while “Until You Fade” and title-track “Out Of Silence” shows the band knows where the gas pedal is, but at either end of that spectrum, the personality of the music remains constant.  There are a few instances, such as “Strokkur,” where the quintet shows a flash of pop music sensibility.  It’s a nifty facet of the album’s personality, as well as an essential balance to those tracks where ambiance is given more weight than actual song structure.  That mix of atmospherics and catchy hooks is arguably the winning characteristic of this very enjoyable recording.

Your album personnel:  Maja Nydegger (piano), Nils Fischer (alto sax, bass clarinet), Claudio von Arx (tenor sax), Simon Iten (bass) and Emanuel Künzi (drums).

Released on Morpheus Records.

Listen to more of the album at the artist’s Bandcamp page.

Music from Bern, Switzerland.

Available at:  Bandcamp | Amazon

This Icelandic quartet’s captivating melodic approach belies the commonly-used meaning of their band name.  Their music is thick with a moody atmosphere, and any good cheer from a song’s tunefulness will be paired with the counterweight of an abiding melancholy.  The quartet’s sixth release ADHD6 holds true to form, with the sole caveat that one should be prepared for some unexpected jolts of volatility.  “Spessi” erupts in celebration, and the thumping tempo of “Med Ívari” contrasts nicely with its subdued melodic expressionism.  And then there’s the alluring “Alli Krilli” and its approximation of an ambient dance tune.

But the immense tranquility of folk song “Fyrir Rúna” is what to expect from the ADHD catalog, and no matter how many instances are encountered, it’s unlikely to soften the addiction for more.  “Magnús Trygvason Eliassen” is the patient layering of melody as a subtle amplification of intensity, and “Levon” employs the same method, but chooses to take a route where subtlety is key.  Because, ultimately, the melody is where this quartet makes its home.

A really nice addition to the family of albums released by ADHD.  I highly recommend checking out more of their recordings.

Your album personnel:  Óskar Guðjónsson (sax), Ómar Guðjónsson (guitar, bass), Davíð Þór Jónsson (hammond, piano) and Magnús Trygvason Eliassen (drums).

This album is Self-Produced.

Listen to another album track at the artist’s Soundcloud page.

Music from Reykjavík, Iceland.

Available at:  Amazon