Artist: Spaltklang
Label: Fazzul Music
Release: 2004
Rating: 4.4/5
After a gorgeous debut, Spaltklang are back two years later with their second record, titled Surprise. The music itself isn’t surprising (to make a joke at the album title’s expense), but it’s surprising just how much beauty and compositional talent is packed into Stauss and his sidekicks.
The album may be called Surprise, but the music itself is no surprise. For the most part it carries on the vision we heard on Alpenglühen. Spaltklang have built their own style and they’re sticking to it. I think that’s the right call, since they’ve created a really good mix of chamber music and occasionally wild jazz rock. With Surprise they don’t just continue in a similar style to Alpenglühen, they also take a step forward in the band’s development, with even more lovely chamber melodies and even more forceful jazz rock playing.
It’s really refreshing to hear a band that knows how to thrill you with the quiet parts as much as the louder ones. Thanks to compression and modern production, quiet passages have practically vanished in recent years, but Spaltklang are still right up there on that front, creating some very intense chamber moments that are complemented by sharper jazz rock playing. The musicians once again deliver an outstanding performance and help bring Markus Stauss’s vision to life.
Like I said, despite the title I’m not at all surprised by what I hear here. Spaltklang have proven themselves before, and this record only cements their credibility as composers, arrangers and performers. Surprise is another excellent piece of work that wins me over every time I hear it. Spaltklang already forged their own sound with their previous release, so there’s no great leap in terms of originality, but when it comes to pure beauty and enjoyment, Surprise is definitely better than Alpenglühen for me.
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After a fabulous debut with Alpenglühen, Spaltklang returned two years later with their sophomore album entitled Surprise. The album’s musical content in itself isn’t a surprise, but it is surprising how much beauty and compositional skills are hidden within Markus Stauss’s group of merry men.
The album may be called Surprise, but the music doesn’t really come as a surprise. Musically, it picks up pretty much where Alpenglühen left off. Spaltklang have created their own unique style and they’re sticking by it. I say all the more credit to them because they have truly created a fine blend of chamber music and scorching jazz rock. Surprise not only continues the legacy of Alpenglühen, but it is actually a step further in the group’s development, with even more beautiful chamber melodies and even fiercer jazz rock playing.
It’s so fresh to hear a band which is still capable of thrilling us with the quiet parts as well as the louder ones. The quiet segments seemed to have almost disappeared in the last years due to compression and modern production, but Spaltklang still deliver on this front, creating some very intense chamber moments, as well as some fierce jazz rock playing. Again, the musicians all put in stellar performances, helping to bring Markus’s vision to life.
As I’ve said, regardless of the title, I’m not really all that surprised by what I hear here. Spaltklang have already proven themselves and this effort just reinforces their credibility as composers, arrangers and performers. Surprise is yet another excellent work, which gives me great pleasure every time I hear it. Spaltklang have already created their own sound with their previous effort, so this isn’t that original, but in terms of sheer beauty and enjoyment Surprise certainly tops Alpenglühen.
Lineup
Markus Stauss – saxophones
Stephan Brunner – electric bass
Oliver Vogt – viola
Rémy Sträuli – drums and keyboards
Production
Markus Stauss
Tracklist
1. Inmitten
2. Ãœberall
3. Patterns
4. Sadness
5. Irgendwo
6. Spuren
7. Flammen
8. So weit das Auge reicht
