Meander Jo David Meyer Lysne & Mats Eilertsen

• 1 Intro 02:33
• 2 Sluten 02:42
• 3 Meander 02:42
• 4 Steinkast 01:42
• 5 Åpning 04:24
• 6 Pil 02:28
• 7 Svømmer Over 02:51
• 8 Duolian 04:05
• 9 Digg Dyne 01:18
• 10 Meso 03:39
• 11 Uro 02:25
• Total Runtime 30:49

Info for Meander

Jo David Meyer Lysne (b. 94) & Mats Eilertsen (b. 75) are releasing their strong album debut, with music mainly written by Meyer Lysne. The music is mostly inspired by the landscape surrounding “Sluten” at Filefjell (NO), where the first compositions were made. Beautiful and nordic landscapes is reflected through quietly, acoustic and dynamic interplay where the melodies, compositions and free improvisations forms the acoustic interplay between the guitar and the double bass.

«My grandfather build our cabin at Sluten. All the material had to be sent on a wire over the river that runs in front of the cabin. He was great at building stuff, a skill I think he appreciated to learn me when I was a child. He had a cold, tiny room in the basement where we would make things out of wood, and I always had a project. Today I´m still searching for things to build to get new timbers from the guitar. By «re-building» the guitar I find new timbers, which can be the basis for new compositions. I´m searching for ways to make an illusion that the sound of the guitar is bigger than it is, or that it might sound like a totally different instrument» (Meyer Lysne)

Meyer Lysne is working on expanding the timbers of the guitar, and this opens up for doing new things within the traditional guitar/bass duo-format, and makes the duo take unexpected directions and presenting different soundscapes. Eilertsen is an experienced performer, with over 100 records. He is carrying Meyer Lysne´s compositions ín a unique way. In the compositions they are working with alternating different roles, which gives the music variation and a clearly dramaturgical structure. Through different moods and states of mind, the record brings the listener a story. The long run is as important as the small details.

"Norwegian guitarist Jo David Meyer Lysne and double bassist Mats Eilertsen make their debut as a duo here. Meyer Lysne is a young player with a very individual approach to the acoustic guitar; Eilertsen is a veteran with over a hundred recordings on his resume, experience that really helps to bring Meyer Lysne's concepts into focus. This is an acoustic project at its core, but both performers also employ electronic effects to expand the possibilities of their instruments. Recording and mixing by Jan Erik Kongshaug at Rainbow Studio (home of so many beautiful ECM recordings) gives the results the perfect presentation.

The opening track "Intro" gives notice that this will not be a standard acoustic date. A collective composition, it is very atmospheric, almost an electronic study. "Sluten" (the first of the Meyer Lysne compositions) begins with his unmodified acoustic guitar, a contrast that establishes the range of the album. The title tune is also guitar oriented, with a folkish, Americana tone.

"Åpning" employs 12-string guitar with cathedral reverb; Eilertsen plays high harmonics (as he does many times during the album), subverting the bass role into high lead voice instead of low accompaniment. "Svømmer Over" is a waltz, and a straightforward, lyrical acoustic duet. "Duolian" is another beautiful Meyer Lysne piece, which gives Eilertsen space for an extended bass solo. During "Meso" he switches between conventional accompaniment and high atmospherics. Closer "Uro" is an atmospheric electronic bookend to the opening track.

Meander could be described as a series of miniatures. Only one track exceeds the four minute mark, and the entire album is only 30 minutes long. But it is a rich, full listening experience. It has a gem-like focus that belies its title." (Mark Sullivan, All About Jazz)

Jo David Meyer Lysne, acoustic guitars, 12-string acoustic guitar, effects
Mats Eilertsen, double bass, effects

Jo David Meyer Lysne
(b. 94) & Mats Eilertsen (b. 75) are releasing their strong album debut, with music mainly written by Meyer Lysne. The music is mostly inspired by the landscape surrounding “Sluten” at Filefjell (NO), where the first compositions were made. Beautiful and nordic landscapes is reflected through quietly, acoustic and dynamic interplay where the melodies, compositions and free improvisations forms the acoustic interplay between the guitar and the double bass.

Meyer Lysne
is working on expanding the timbers of the guitar, and this opens up for doing new things within the traditional guitar/bass duo-format, and makes the duo take unexpected directions and presenting different soundscapes. In the compositions they are working with alternating different roles, which gives the music variation and a clearly dramaturgical structure. Through different moods and states of mind, the record brings the listener a story. The long run is as important as the small details.

This album contains no booklet.