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Atomic: Pet Variations

By Mark Corroto
February 9, 2019
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The Scandinavian supergroup Atomic has always pushed back against "tradition," be it the customary sound of Nordic jazz or—maybe more importantly—what most believe to be the avant-garde. Each member has a thriving career outside the quintet: bassist

Ingebrigt Håker Flaten

bass
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Ingebrigt H?ker Flaten with The Young Mothers, The Thing, Rempis Percussion Quartet, and his own trio and quartets, drummer Hans Hulb?kmo with Moskus, pianist

Håvard Wiik

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">H?vard Wiik with

Ken Vandermark

saxophone
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Vandermark and the Wiik Trio, saxophonist

Fredrik Ljungkvist

saxophone, tenor
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Fredrik Ljungkvist's work with Gard Nilssen's Acoustic Unity and Territory Band(s), and

Magnus Broo

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Magnus Broo with Angles, IPA. A unique synergism occurs when they come together to tour and record, which they have done since 2000. Over a dozen recordings, from Feet Music (Jazzland, 2001) to their penultimate Six Easy Pieces (Odin, 2017), Atomic's sound successfully melds brainy music with discerning energy. "Sleepy Scandinavian jazz" is not an accurate descriptor.

With Pet Variations, the quintet has changed directions a bit. Where their previous recordings presented all original material, here they perform eight covers. But not just any eight. Besides

Brian Wilson

vocals
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Wilson's "Pet Sounds," the music includes French composers Olivier Messiaen ("Louange �� l'?ternit�� de J��sus") and Edgard Var��se ("Un Grand Sommeil Noir"), Steve Lacy ("Art"), Alexander von Schlippenbach ("Inri"), Jimmy Giuffre ("Cry Want"), Carla Bley ("Walking Woman"), and Jan Garbarek ("Karin's Mode").

Now that is certainly stretching far and wide for inspiration! Not to worry; this is Atomic's music. The opening track "Pet Variations / Pet Sound" fuses the Beach Boys' studio sound with Wiik's exhilarated stylings. It's disciplined, yet rowdy. So are many of the other tracks. Bley's "Walking Woman" has a bit too much to drink, with Ljungkvist's saxophone and Wiik's piano teetering in an unbalanced walk until the stumble is handed off to Broo and Flaten. The Messiaen and Var��se compositions are soulful, reflective hymns performed with suppleness and grace befitting the composers. The highlights are "Art" and "Cry Want," both emphasizing the patience and musicianship of this quintet. This may be a supergroup, but there are no spotlight-hogging prima donnas.

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Track Listing

Pet Variations/Pet Sounds; Art; Walking Woman; Un Grand Sommeil Noir; Cry Want; Louange �� l��?ternit�� de J��sus; Inri; Karin��s Mode.

Personnel

Atomic

band / ensemble / orchestra

Fredrik Ljungkvist: saxophone, clarinet; Magnus Broo: trumpet; H?vard Wiik: piano; Ingebrigt H?ker Flaten: bass; Hans Hulb?kmo: drums.

Album information

Title: Pet Variations | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Odin Records

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