[tweakism] • Audun Kleive

 Audun Kleive returns to Jazzland Recordings with his first solo album since 2012's "Release". Where "Release" was largely an atmospheric album exploring the use of the electronic Wavedrum, with occasional excursions into beat-driven material, "[Tweakism]" is a return to the angular experimentation of his "Generator X" project, but this time he does so entirely solo. 

Kleive is one of the most revered jazz drummers in the the Norwegian scene, having appeared on (almost literally) countless recordings throughout his career. However, in his solo incarnation, his will to explore presents a musician not to be held captive by labels or expectations. He builds musical structures from unlikely elements in unique forms, deliberately and skilfully avoiding cliché and obvious repetition, crafting his works with meticulous care and a critical ear. There are few artists so determined to be nothing but themselves. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Audun Kleive • Ωagoddabl

Ohmagoddabl is Generator X's third outing. Audun Kleive's occasional group is made up of some of the cream of Norway's electric jazz players, namely Jan Bang (samples), Christian Wallumrod and Stale Storlokken (keys), and Arve Henriksen (trumpet). Ohmagoddabl's predecessor (simply entitled Generator X) was an intriguing, though occasionally patchy work; its spare moments were perhaps a little too spare, though they were balanced by some marvellous future jazz experiments, so this latest release is met with some anticipation.

That Generator X's sound is so highly percussive is perhaps unsurprising given that Kleive is a drummer, but this motive power clearly harks back to Miles Davis's 1970s explorations as well as connecting to the rhythmic monomania of the electronic dance music revolution of the last 15 years.
The first moments of "Genreactor" might be mistaken for a Carl Craig techno track except that bass stabs simultaneously signal a potential junglist anthem. Then clattering drums liable to cause clubland consternation start up, sounding like they're trying to lock into a pattern. Arve's trumpet discharges haunted moans and plangent appeals over some fine, phat bass while Audun continues to pursue the beat, but instead of repetitive groove, he delivers a kaleidoscopic matrix of rhythmic possibilities. Around the five minute mark things turn heavy and monstrous, murderous even. A minute later and it's all over, all too suddenly.
"Exploded Cod" is thrash jungle complete with rubber keyboard bass. Ghost winds float over the melee like a dread fog. "Stumblin' At The Savoy" sounds like musical bricolage, as if anything that was within reach of the musicians had been grabbed and put into the service of rhythm. There's a precarious sense of parts travelling separately but towards a roughly similar destination. It's the musical equivalent of watching a Jean Tinguely sculpture negotiating its short lifespan towards an assured destruction.
The pressure gradually increases to explosive levels until the ten minute mark when events turn into something like a junkyard symphony centred upon Kleive, who seems to excel at producing a grooveless groove. He's joined by all manner of squelches, squeals and electronic squwaking over which Storlokken's high pitched synths ­recognisable from Supersilent - soar like sci-fi comets.
When compared to the previous year, Norway's musical output was relatively quiet in 2003. Perhaps its musicians were drawing their breath for the next onslaught of creative, cutting-edge hybridisation. Hopefully Ohmagoddabl is the harbinger of that riptide, but even if nothing follows on its heels, it's a vital and remarkable set of music. Any fan of 1970s Miles Davis who also enjoys swimming in the oceans of electronic music that have formed in the last couple of decades should listen to this. by Colin Buttimer bbc.co.uk

1. Genreactor
2. Exploded Cod
3. Stumblin' at Savoy
4. Sessaphêre
5. Ofcourseable

Audun Kleive • drums, keyboards, vocals, computer, loops
Christian Wallumrød • keyboards
Ståle Storløkken • keyboards
Arve Henriksen • trumpet
Jan Bang • sampler, loops

Mixed By • Audun Kleive & Robert Musso
Produced by Audun Kleive

Label: Jazzland Records
Format: 320
Country: Norway
Released: 2004
Genre: Electronic, Jazz
Style: Jazztronica, Experimental

Audun Kleive | GENERATOR X • Live

I seldom get pleasure of listening to live shows neglecting to return to most after a cursory listen, which I know is probably my loss. I probably got this from dime whilst looking for something else.
I had the pleasure of seeing this band live, I think, earlier than this recording at the Jazz Cafe in London. A great live experience.

sty•lo

"GENERATOR X" - tour
Audun Kleive's Generator X ripping up the rule book.

FM recording July 1th, 2002 Musikcafeen Aarhus, Denmark

1. trak 1

2. trak 2

Arve Henriksen • trumpet
Jan Bang • live sampling
Christian Wallumrød • keyboards
Ståle Storløkken • keyboards
Audun Kleive • drums

Label: Download
Format: 320
Country: Denmark
Released: 2002
Genre: Electronic, Jazz
Style: Jazztronica, Experimental 

Audun Kleive • Generator X

Generator X is an excellent album and could rank as one of the key statements in Norwegian nu jazz. It's very interesting in its range of influences and how it combines these to create such a cohesive whole. The most arresting track is "Obelisk" which apart from its very modern rhythmic elements could almost have been a lost track from Miles Davis's Get Up With It sessions. Trumpeter Arve Henriksen opens with his trademark flute-like tone but soon moves to a more hard-edged timbre for some gritty soloing over the dense, misty backdrop painted by Kleive's rhythms and the shifting keyboard textures created by Christian Wallumrød and Ståle Storløkken, both of whom give more than a hint of Herbie Hancock in their use of harmony and the timbres conjoured from their very retro '70s array of keyboards (Rhodes, Prophet and Moog). One thing that is striking about the music is how it retains a sense of form throughout and yet remains extremely spontaneous and inspired.
The album is full of interesting textures. "Never Thought I Would" one of two live tracks adding Jan Bang to the lineup, opens with a thudding house-like bass drum beat over which Kleive's vocals and the keyboards create a range of textures very different from those on "Obelisk" On "Framework" the keyboards show Weather Report influences, but transplanted to an edgy modern environment characterised by Kleive's live drumming, very effectively fractured through editing, and other electronic textures. The more contemplative "Mainstay" also shows Weather Report influences, especially in the very Zawinalesque Moog and Rhodes parts.
Generator X can in many ways be seen as an extension of the timbres and sense of musical experimentation found in mid-'70s Miles Davis or early Weather Report, whilst combining this with many thoroughly modern elements to create a sound world not really found anywhere else.

Jon Opstad

1. Framework
2. Never Thought I Would / Bitt Decomposition
3. Mainstay
4. Obelisk
5. Generator X /  Decomposition

Arve Henriksen • Trumpet
Christian Wallumrød • Rhodes, Prophet VS
Ståle Storløkken • Minimoog, Prophet T8, Emulator III
Jan Bang • Live Sampling (2, 5)
Audun Kleive • Drums, Keysboards, Vocals

Produced by Audun Kleive

Label: Jazzland Records – 542 900-2
Format:320
Country: Norway
Released: 2000
Genre: Electronic, Jazz
Style: Jazztronica