The Verge: The Verge

The Verge are a four-piece from Norway, consisting of Emil Storløkken Åse (guitars), Aksel Rønning (saxophone and flute), Alf Høines (electric bass), and Ingvald André Vassbø (drums). Their self-titled debut consists of seven tracks, which they say “all sound very different from each other� and are defined by “sonic landscapes that vary from fiery melodic jazz music to hysterical prog rock, atmospheric free-improvisation, and heavy riffs.�

I would say that is half true, at best. I hear very little melody and almost no prog, though there is plenty of hysterical free-improvisation and a little heavy guitar work. As for whether the tracks all sound different, that’s a bit of a stretch. Yes, the cacophony varies some from track to track, but almost the entire album is defined by just that: cacophony. I like free jazz, but this album only occasionally delivers on its promise.

The opener, “Nessesse,� has some nice chaotic horn work, but it is largely drowned out by an extremely repetitive drum pattern that persists until near the very end, when the track closes in a somewhat peaceful way. “Hyperreality� has the same problem, except here we get the same sax pattern for three minutes, and it isn’t even interesting. I like the first five and a half minutes of “Snake,� but then it just goes off the rails for the final two minutes. What they were trying to accomplish is anyone’s guess.

“Gratitude� is the strongest track up to this point. The four guys seem to be playing beside and along with each other instead of at odds. Then we get “Postludium,� which provides almost three minutes of relative solitude that one could almost imagine on In a Silent Way but played by less skillful musicians. Like “Snake,� it then goes off the rails. Much free jazz has some broad sense of structure, even if only implicitly. This has none.

There is nothing objectionable about “The Blast Supper,� but there is also nothing memorable. The album closes with the nine-minute “Patterns for Meditation.� An odd name: It’s hard to imagine anyone assuming the lotus pose while listening to this track. Instead, we finally hear the guitars front and center, with some heavy riffing. A nice piece, and a good closer to the album.

On first listen, I expected to give this album more than three stars. But I can’t muster anything more than that. Ultimately, I guess I liked the idea of what they were trying to do more than what they actually did. Play it at your own risk.

Track Listing
1. Nessesse 5:02
2. Hyperreality 3:04
3. Snake 7:46
4. Gratitude 4:12
5. Postludium 7:48
6. The Blast Supper 3:30
7. Patterns for Meditation 9:08

Added: March 1st 2025
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 445
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]