Jesper Thorn 'Dragør' LP/CD (April) 5/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993 (original) (raw)
Danish bassist Jesper Thorn has come to be known for his deeply personal, introspective, soul-searching sound through which he strives to untangle his innermost thoughts and conflicts. A follow-up to his award-winning 2020 release ‘Boy’, ‘Dragør’ dives into Thorn’s complex feelings towards the town by the same name in which he grew up, resulting in what I feel I have to call – and I do not say this lightly – a masterpiece.
The third album under his own name, ‘Dragør’ is unwaveringly beautiful with a complexity and darkness to it that reflects Thorn’s turbulent emotional relationship with his hometown. The stories he sets to music include his strained relationship with his father, overcoming a debilitating case of asthma brought on by being born five weeks early, dealing with the feeling that he didn’t belong, and the deep-seated silence and guilt that came from his Catholic heritage. But hey folks, it’s not all doom and gloom! ‘Dragør’ is also the place where Thorn met the love of his life; Mette Damm, who produced this wonderful album. Released by the ever-impressive April Records, on vinyl, CD and digital platforms, the quality of the music and the musicianship is matched by the production and sound quality. And I have to say that listening to this album on vinyl is an incredible experience.
Let’s be clear: This is music that pulls at your heartstrings, delicately leaving you hanging by a thread. It sums up the fragility of life itself – the highs, the lows, and the endless amount of feelings that touch our hearts and souls on a daily basis. It moves me to tears, and yet its warmth and emotive strength brings a smile to my face, somehow giving me hope and spiritual joy. Yes, Thorn’s music is reflective and contemplative in its nature, but it’s also bold and innovative. In essence, I find it wholly inspirational.
Truly great albums don’t come along that often and I can’t help feeling that in most cases for this to happen, it certainly helps if all the elements of making music are perfectly aligned. The composer needs to be inspired, the musicians chosen need to share an unswerving empathy and trust, the producer needs to understand the artist and the music, the record label needs to be positive and supportive… the list seems endless. I’m sure many great recordings have been made without these things being in place, but for this album, observing from the outside and not knowing any of the people involved, I get the impression that the stars were indeed aligned. And this is not by chance, or by luck. The Danish music scene is especially vibrant at the moment, with many brilliant artists coming to the fore. Five of these are on this album.
Joining composer and bassist Thorn are Marc Méan on piano and electronics, Tobias Wiklund on cornet, Cecilie Strange on tenor saxophone, and Andreas Bernitt on violin and viola. The quintet’s combined sound is startlingly original, with each and every one of the performers bringing something very special to the recording. Occasionally there’s something that elevates music beyond its initial being. It could just be one note, a chord change, a melody twist, an odd hook, a unique motif… all of these things and many more. This album has these incredible splendours in plentiful supply. They’re not forced in any way, they’re just the natural result of five inspired musicians all working together in perfect harmony.
The eight tracks on ‘Dragør’ all weave an intricate, spellbinding tapestry of sound. These tunes are connected, interwoven in a way that radiates life through colour and texture. Melancholic harmony and intricate songwriting provide the delicate framework through which each member of Thorn’s quintet can impart their own impressions and feelings on his stories. The arrangements create space for every corner of the quintet to carry melodies, be they written or improvised, and the resulting sound is dynamic, evolving, innovative and highly immersive. The gentle timbre of Strange’s tenor, lamenting cornet melodies, soaring strings, warm synth textures, muted pianos and masterful musicianship all contribute to the realisation of Thorn’s cohesive conceptual and musical vision.
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In this case, it’s in my ears. And I wish for it to be in yours too. All you lovers of ECM, Scandi-jazz, the Nordic sound, contemporary jazz, neo-classical, ambient, and much more besides, you need to discover this album. I know I’ll be listening to it for many, many years to come. Jesper Thorn, Marc Méan, Tobias Wiklund, Cecilie Strange, Andreas Bernitt- please all stand and take a bow. You have made one of the most stunningly beautiful albums I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to.