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Michael Aadal Group: Pomona
ByAadal's guitar partner is pedal steel/lap steel guitarist Anders Hofstad Sørås, joined on the front line by tenor saxophonist André Kassen. The rhythm section is anchored by pianist/keyboardist Ole-Bjørn Talstad, with acoustic bassist Audun Rama and drummer Gunnar Saeter. This is the group's third album. Aadal wrote all of the tunes, but arrangements are credited to the entire group.
The opening track "The Border" illustrates the approach well. The song builds up in layers, pump organ in gentle support, building to Aadal's solo, then building further as Talstad switches to piano for Kassen's solo. "Purgatory" has a similar folksong-like sound, with both guitars playing the head. The "Iceland" portrayed here is a dramatic place, but it could be a northern locale in North America. On "Leaving" the guitar again gives way to a burning saxophone solo, even more intense than the one on the opener. The album projects a remarkably consistent mood. Aadal's writing and playing recall such solid body guitar stalwarts as Mark Knopfler and Bill Frisell: like them, he seems to be traditional and contemporary at the same time.
Track Listing
The Border; Pomona; Signs - Part 1; Signs - Part 2; Purgatory; Iceland; Leaving; Reflections; Traces.
Personnel
Michael Aadal: electric guitars; André Kassen: tenor saxophone; Ole-Bjørn Talstad: piano, pump organ and Roland Jupiter; Anders Hofstad Sørås: pedal steel, lap steel; Audun Ramo: acoustic bass; Gunnar Sæter: drums.
Album information
Title: Pomona | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Losen Records