Mats-Morgan Band: On Air with Guests

Astonishing collection of radio tapes by one the freakiest bands nowadays. Mats Óberg and Morgan Agren are joined here with their regular players, accompanied here by other stars of swedish music scene. The result would be the answer to the question: what happens when funk meets prog in the hands of an extremely fast and aggressive band?

The record starts with a great intro, "En Schizofrens Dagbok", where you can imagine more or less what is coming on the record: furious and hypertechnical jazz rock. It continues with "Hollmervalsen", lots of frenzy in a piece with superb changes on rhytmics (it reminds me of FRENCH TV for the continuos chages and slight humour in the melody, very zappaesque indeed).

As a moment of relax before the storm, we have a cover of the classic by Alfred Ellis "Chicken" (maybe the fastest cover of the song is this one!). And here is the storm: Mats Öberg and Morgan Agren playing together with Frederik Thornendal in the heaviest part of the record, close to avant metal or even grind; incredible rol for Morgan Agran on drums. Then we have one of my favorites, "Advokaten", a song that changes every time is played, so we can verify their talent to remake their music on each occasion. this time, it starts with light percussives until the appearance of the theremin; then starts an oustanding crescendo that leads, us Zappa would say, to an orgasmic frenzy. Fiery jazz rock music at its best!

To stop the growing in intensity, "Min Häst" brings a lighter atmosphere with its funky kindness, so we can have mind and body prepared for the next blast: "Etage A-41",full hypnotic keyborads and rhytmics
(once again FRENCH TV, but a couple of bits more accelerated). Return to calm with a bluesy tune from the JIMMY AGREN BAND (is it necessary to say that the quiet sections of this record could easily be
the fastest of others?). On "Baader Puff/Paltsug" they show us their devotion to FRANK ZAPPA with a piece full of changes and absolute fun that reminds me of the best FZ: is it possible to make so much music in only 3 minutes? The last song of the record, "Ta Ned Trasan", very in a canterburian way (reminds me of NATIONAL HEALTH´s first record).

But there is a surprise, the prize for those who dared to listen to the whole record and remained still unsatisfied: ten minutes of what it seems to be a collage of improvisations with lots of electronic drums and programming. In fact, in an album with such an amount of musical researchers, this was the only instrument one not appeared yet.

How can I resume 70 minutes of superb avant jazz rock in two words? Absolutely essential. Not only is this band one of the best in current prog scene, they have reinvented the language of jazz rock and
taking it to unknown dimensions worth to be discovered by all of us who love skilled musicians and creative and innovative music.

Tracklist:
1. En Schizofrens Dagbok 6:15
2. Spök-jingle 0:48
3. Hollmervalsen 7:57
4. Knut-jingle 0:13
5. Chicken 7:01
6. Jigsaw-jingle 0:13
7. Sol Niger Within 5:40
8. Advokaten 7:31
9. Watch Me-jingle 0:13
10. Min Häst 6:49
11. Etage A-41 6:00
12. Dagens Övning-jingle 0:17
13. She’s Louder Than Me, But I’ve Got The Microphone 4:22
14. Baader Puff/Paltsug 3:26
15. Mats-jingle 1:04
16. Ta Ned Trasan 8:26
17. Hard To Find-jingle 0:12
18. Trum-jingle 0:27
Total Time: 67:04