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LUUM: The Guide

By Mike Jurkovic
April 8, 2022
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Smudging the margins, rock-fisted drummer

Karl-Juhan Laanesaar

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Karl-Juhan Laanesaar crashes into the symmetrical meditation of young Estonian pianist

" data-original-title="" title="">Madis Muul's "We Have Found Water" and changes the music's fate (from ballad to pensive electronica and back again) before closing on a ferocious little jam which surrenders to a quiet reprieve.

That is just for openers for The Guide, the lushly cinematic debut by LUUM. "Secret Creek" finds Muul fully embracing both the ranging rhythmic Zen of

Nik Bärtsch

piano
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Nik B?rtsch and the late 20th century romanticism of

Esbjorn Svensson

piano
1964 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Esbjorn Svensson. "First Steps" might be heard as a flowery, idealistic gambol (thanks mostly to flautist

Markus-Anthony Eermann

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">Markus-Anthony Eermann's feathery whim) but Muul keeps pulling him back to the side of the street that is a bit less sunny.

Every young composer gets lulled into a sense of grander classicism at some point in their ascendency and "The Poet" is Muul's bout. The music swells and lingers in all the right poetic places until thankfully giving way to the ballsy taffy pull "A Place Where the Sun Sets Twice." Muul and trumpeter

Allan Jarveis

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Allan Jarveis run rampant here, flashing Spanish bullring bravado one moment and a martial sense of farce the next. It is a cool trick that has not been heard since the heyday of early

Genesis

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Genesis or

King Crimson

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">King Crimson. And just for merry fortune, the tune takes a great bop turn around the 6:50 mark too. That it sets the stage for the

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans bred poetry of "Autumn In Ungru" is just a bonus and a real open setting for bassist

Andres Alaru

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Andres Alaru to flash his inner

Scott LaFaro

bass
1936 - 1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott LaFaro. The album's title track fervently closes The Guide, but opens us all up to the sounds of new thinkers. Give it a spin.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

We have Found Water; Secret Creek; First Steps; The Poet; A Place Where the Sun Sets Twice; Autumn in Ungru; The Guide.

Personnel

Madis Muul

piano

Karl-Juhan Laanesaar

drums

Andres Alaru

bass, acoustic

Allan J?rve

trumpet

Markus-Anthony Eermann

flute

Album information

Title: The Guide | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Self Produced

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