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Mattias Risberg's Mining: Zauberberg

By Karl Ackermann
June 23, 2020
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The Swedish pianist

Mattias Risberg

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Mattias Risberg has teamed up with a range of well-known northern European born or based improvisers, including saxophonist

Fredrik Ljungkvist

saxophone, tenor
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Fredrik Ljungkvist and vocalist

" data-original-title="" title="">Jennie Abrahamson. He remains largely unknown in the U.S. but garnered well-deserved attention for And Now the Queen—A Tribute to
Carla Bley
piano
1938 - 2023
" data-original-title="" title="">Carla Bley (Lilalo records, 2016), a duo recording with Ljungkvist. Risberg lives between two musical worlds as a post-modern composer with an affinity for (relatively) old-world instruments. His inspirations are no less diverse: he cites Buddha,

Frank Zappa

guitar, electric
1940 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Zappa,

Peter Gabriel

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Gabriel,

Paul Bley

piano
1932 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Bley, and more. Traces of many influences can be heard in Zauberberg.

The ensemble known as Mattias Risberg's Mining takes its name from the ore mines in the Bergslagen region of Sweden, where Risberg grew up. Their debut album was recorded live in the depths of a mine in the town of Stripa. Live in Stripa (Kullen Reko, 2019) featured an impressive band including bassist

Dan Berglund

bass
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Dan Berglund (

Esbjorn Svensson

piano
1964 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Esbjorn Svensson Trio) and drummer

Jon Falt

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Falt (

Bobo Stenson

piano
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobo Stenson Trio).

Mats Gustafsson

woodwinds
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Mats Gustafsson's

Fire! Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Fire! Orchestra group figures heavily in the remainder of Risberg's line up.

Metaphorically speaking, the caves are still with us. In a spoken segment of the opening title track, Abrahamson's child-like reading tells us where we will find the "names of the dead." The seemingly dispassionate narration takes on a special eeriness amid gothic pipe organ and bells. In sharp contrast "Sweet Science" is initially reminiscent of a Sandy Denny ballad, guitarist

David Stackenäs

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">David Stacken?s accompanying Abrahamson's exquisite, unembellished vocal. As the reeds, strings and synthesizer enter the piece takes on an orchestrated lushness. "Red Ponds" and "Megaphone" are firmly rooted in hard rock, driven by Stacken?s' electric guitar and Abrahamson's experimentalism. Zauberberg closes with the engaging "Obstacles." Josefin Runsteen's violin and Risberg's piano supporting Abrahamson's beautifully fragile vocal.

Zauberberg has more contemplative moments than Mining's debut while still capitalizing on Risberg's broad stylistic palette. It would be hard to argue that Abrahamson's versatile voice isn't the focal point for much of the album. But it's Risberg's precise vocabulary and his traversing of boundaries that provide the unusual platform that makes this all work so well.

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Track Listing

Zauberberg, Sweet Science; Shrink; Red Ponds; Rocks 'n Stein; Megaphone; Obstacles.

Personnel

Mattias Risberg

keyboards

Jennie Abrahamson

vocals

Dan Berglund

bass

Jon Falt

drums

Josefin Runsteen

violin

Fredrik Ljungkvist

saxophone, tenor

David Stacken?s

guitar

Additional Instrumentation

Mattias Risberg: compositions, piano, mellotron, arp pro, nord electro; Fredrik Ljungkvist: baritone saxophone, clarinet; Josefin Runsteen: marimba.

Album information

Title: Zauberberg | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Kullen Reko

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