Avant Folk Triptyk

Norwegian accordionist Frode Haltli’s third Avant Folk outing has a change of record label, from Hubro to Jazzland, retaining a substantial ensemble line-up. Fiddles, horns and guitars are doubled, alongside Hammond organ, bass, drums and the leader’s accordion. Erlend Apneseth is one of the violinists. A tiny intro tentatively tiptoes for 30 seconds, then a whammy-bar guitar launches the more determined ‘Trippar’, its highly arranged components not playing a straight theme, or soloing either, but instead making a stalking narrative, a stumbling progress, with a topping of scampering, pointillist details. This is highly evocative music, with a developing storyline. The title-track has a softer touch, with wistful accordion, brushed skins and ruminative bass, very much creating an ensemble palette. ‘Zwischenspiel’ breaks down into new music abstraction, with spectral accordion, then ‘Prillar’ has a springy beat, tripping syncopations that buoy a prominent tenor saxophone line. Its second half switches to an introverted mood, an exploratory form. Haltli’s concept has been refined and carefully crafted in the studio, whereas his previous Avant Folk albums had more of a smouldering live nature.