Lars Fiil - New Ground (s/r, 2024)

By Sammy Stein

I first heard Lars Fiil in 2017. His album, Reconsideration (2011), was nominated for a Danish Music Award Jazz, and he has since released internationally acclaimed albums with the projects Frit Fald and Fiil Free, as well as with oud virtuoso Bilal Irshed. He has also contributed to over fifteen releases as a sideman and is a regular member of the indie-jazz group I Think You’re Awesome, which tours worldwide.

After hearing Fiil and reviewing some of his music, I invited him to perform at The London Jazz Platform festival where he proved an engaging and well-received guest. Now, Lars steps into uncharted territory with his album New Ground set to release on November 1st, 2024. It is Fiil’s seventh release as band leader, and he has a new band comprising Nicolai Kaas Claesson (Horse Orchestra, Dødens Garderobe) on electric bass and Matt Carroll (SloGlo, Ohmme) on drums. The band also features prominent guest appearances from trumpeter Jakob Sørensen (Bagland) and clarinettist Carolyn Goodwin (Copenhagen Clarinet Choir, Thou Sonic Friend), whose lyrical and ethereal melodies add additional layers to the group's exploratory sound. Together they create a sound that blends acoustic soundscapes with ambient electronic textures offering a fresh take on Nordic jazz.

Fiil explains, "This album is about having the courage to venture into unknown territory while daring to stand firm in who you are and where you come from as a musician. We wanted to create something that feels both grounded and forward-looking. We've worked on combining acoustic and electronic elements to create something fresh and challenging, allowing us to explore new ideas while maintaining a connection to beautiful melodies and epic storytelling."

Much about this release captures the imagination, from the shimmering effects, off-kilter drumbeats, delicate piano melodies, and soft synthesizer pads. From the ethereal ‘Look Up’ to the delicate melodies of ‘Around US’ the music, from the start is a journey through different moods. The listener is immersed in imaginative sound waves that lift, gently release, and capture the mind.

There are moments of magic like the entrancing ‘A Question of Time’ where the off-kilter rhythms are contrasted by a pervasive melodic backdrop and the clarinet intersperses melody in rounded tones and beautiful runs. The slightly held final beat to each bar is a masterstroke, contrasting as it does with the steadfast timekeeping of the clarinet.

There is music for every mood such as the relaxed intonations on ‘It is What It Is’ or the dark contrasts of ‘New Ground’ and there are tracks where explorative directions are taken by the ensemble members, like on ‘So We Say Goodbye. ‘Epilogue’ is glorious and probably the freest track on the album yet it, like the rest of the tracks, adheres to traditional concepts of music creation. An almost classical lineage is adhered to, so the listener is ensconced among the familiarity of traditional musical lines while also exposed to free spontaneity – such as the crashes that intersperse the final track when least expected.

This beautifully conceived album nods to classical music, jazz, and spontaneous creativity. Fiil has taken a bold step down a different path with this music, successfully blending various elements of his stylistic playing, all backed by an ensemble that understands the musical intent.