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AKKU Quintet: Live
 The album opens with a drum / percussion groove, the music is open, spacious and atmospheric. A basic structure of foundation is created, and then there are subtle layers from the other instruments that slowly are added and continue to grow. This is definitely mood music, turn out the lights, and let the music envelop you. It is rich, and takes its time exposing itself. As the opening track "Waves" continues to evolve, it morphs into an almost space-rock vibe, with a nice guitar solo and with the help keyboards and horns it begins to take off, and the hauntingly beautiful piano that ends the track is gorgeous and effective. "Polar" features a hypnotic piano riff that the guitar and horns play off of quite wonderfully. It is amazing that something so simple can turn into such a beautiful piece of music. But wait, there is a darkness that begins to creep in and the song transitions but yet maintains its beauty. This is definitely a put the headphones on, turn out the lights, and whatever might put you in the mood to sit back absorb, and listen. "Deep Sleep I" finds its legs and begins to propel itself forward with the drums driving, keyboards and guitar working together to take you on a journey. It's almost odd when you hear the clapping at the end, it kind of pulls you out and reinforces that this is live. "Scheneemann" begins with a hypnotic piano motif and drum beat that suddenly pulls back, but adds horns to create a different vibe from the intro, and then the guitar creeps in adding more to the mix. Things get a bit off kilter as the song continues to morph, the organ builds from behind, and another hypnotic trance like motif carries the song.
This is all about soundscapes, atmospheres, and moods. You definitely need to be in the right frame of mind for this type of music, but it is not background music, take the time to sit and absorb it. You could put it on one day, and think, what the hell am I listening to, and the next day it connects with you.
Track List:
1) Waves
2) Polar
3) Deep Sleep I
4) Schneemann
5) Deep Sleep II
Added: July 24th 2024
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:  
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 641
Language: english
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AKKU Quintet: Live
Posted by Jon Neudorf, SoT Staff Writer on 2024-07-24 19:17:49
My Score:
As a reviewer I listen to an abundance of music, spanning a multitude of genres and styles. Sometimes music will immediately grab my attention, sometimes great patience is required. The latter is the case with Swiss jazz proggers the Akku Quintet, led by Manuel Pasquinelli. They formed in 2010 and have six full length albums to their credit, including their 2022 release titled Live. As you can probably surmise the album was recorded live with five tracks spread over four different shows.
I was unfamiliar with the band until digging into this latest album. They play a mix of ambient, jazz, and progressive fusion, adding elements of post rock, encased in a shroud of trippiness that I found to be amazingly rewarding.
The first track “Waves” is taken from the band’s 2017 performance at bee-flat im Progr in Bern, Switzerland. It is a sprawling twenty-eight-minute piece beginning with a repeating percussive drum line before piano and guitar are slowly added, revealing the quintet’s subtle yet complex approach to ensemble playing. The music builds slowly as instruments are added, including spacey effects, sometimes bursting out of the soundscape, other times having a softer approach. The waves gradually recede, and begin again, the spacey abstractions and lead guitar taking hold as saxophone adds another layer of sound. I was even reminded of Pink Floyd at times, the atmosphere thick with trippiness. “Polar”, taken from the same venue in 2019, starts with a repeating Grand piano line before a fully realized jazz sound unfolds. The drumming adds complexity, the music builds again with a more post rock slant, the guitar stabbing through icy piano, the band showcasing some wonderful interplay. Lots of sound effects are utilized, adding to the spacey effect.
Fine saxophone and lead guitar highlight the excellent “Deep Sleep I”, a nice slice of trippy progressive fusion. More fine guitar work can be heard in the complex “Schneemann”, the sounds clashing or melding together, revealing the Quintet’s highbrow artful fusion. The guitar and sax work wonderfully together.
Akku has been an excellent discovery so if you are unfamiliar with the band and appreciate consummate musicianship, I highly recommend Live for your music library.
The players:
Manuel Pasquinelli (drums)
Michael Gilsenan (saxophone, sound effects)
Markus Ischer (guitar)
Maja Nydegger (Grand piano, keyboards)
Andi Schnellmann (bass)
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