“Pairs of Three” is the debut album of Paal Nilssen-Love’s new band: Circus. Of course, in the area of music that Nilssen-Love (freely) moves in having a new act isn’t always big news (however good the music is), and at first glance this new act could look like a smaller scale off-shot from the now well established Large Unit flagship – perhaps a spontaneous side-project to explore some ideas discovered within the mothership – it certainly wouldn’t be wrong to assume this, as the majority of the members in Circus have served or currently serve time within the ranks of Large Unit. And that would have been a totally welcome and enjoyable addition to the ever-expanding world of Large Unit.
But, no. Circus is its own beast. This is Nilssen-Love fully immersing himself in his love for the music of Brazil. This comes as no surprise, as there have been several links in the past, like the “New Brazilian Funk” album, a high-octane live recordings with Brazilian musicians made at the Roskilde festival in 2018. But the line-up of Circus is a Scandinavian-based one, and clearly the musicians Nilssen-Love’s has picked shares his passion for this music, as this is music driven by a BAND.
The biggest surprise in the line-up is probably South-African vocalist Juliana Venter, adding a refreshing element to a discography that is in large instrumental based. Venter has her own style, but it wouldn’t be off to say that her energy and intense focus evokes that of Elza Soares. Throughout the album she displayes a wide range and is crucial in making everything come together.
“Pairs of Three” really takes the listener for a ride to the world of Brazilian music – from Mestre André’s samba school drums and the north-eastern baião by Luiz Gonzaga, to Jackson do Pandeiro and Hermeto Paschoal, with links to the melodies of Edu Lobo and Milton Nascimento, via the horns and drums of the Maracatu sambada.
Of course this is no record-collector appropriation pastiche, Circus takes the music they love and do the right thing: acknowledging the influence and origins, but making their completely own take on the ideas. There are many elements on the album that is clearly coming from Nilssen-Love’s diverse palette of expression and exploration. And this ability to mixing things up is why a new project from him is always good news. “Pairs of Three” is a complex, moving and intense debut album. In November of 2022 you could do much worse than joining this Circus.
credits
released November 4, 2022
Juliana Venter – voice
Thomas Johansson – trumpet
Signe Emmeluth – alto saxophone
Kalle Moberg – accordion
Oddrun Lilja – electric guitar,
Christian Meaas Svendsen – electric and acoustic bass
Paal Nilssen-Love – drums, percussion, Paiste gongs and cymbals
All Music by Paal Nilssen-Love (TONO) except Nazare da Mata, which consists of two melodies by Mestre Bi and Mestre Carlos Antônio from Nazare da Mata. Lyrics on Hurgu Love by Juliana Venter. Lyrics on Round About Lapa by Juliana Venter and Paal Nilssen-Love. Recorded 28th-30th June and 1st July 2021 at Studio Paradiso, Oslo Norway. Recorded and mixed by Christian Engfelt. Mastered by Jørgen Træen. Produced by Paal Nilssen-Love. Co-produced by Christian Engfelt. Cover by Lasse Marhaug.
PNL Records was
started in 2007 by Norwegian jazz drummer Paal Nilssen-Love to release his recordings as a solo artist, with his big band Large Unit, and in collaborations with other artists.
We offer digital downloads of most PNL releases as well as CD, vinyl and other merch on PNL and other labels, all featuring Paal....more
supported by 32 fans who also own “Pairs of Three”
I'm really not the fan of live albums, but this pearl is a must listen. It lasts over an hour, but there is not even one minute of boredom or tiredness in here Gremlin Monroe
supported by 31 fans who also own “Pairs of Three”
After a precision liftoff in Tabasco and setting a course to travel the space ways from planet to planet, the album peels away through a wormhole just past Saturn in the eponymous track Mayan Space Station to journey through time and space in Canyons of Light. eric F
Inspired by the rhythm & timbre of bellringing, “Pendulums” folds neo-classical, jazz, & even ambient music into a wondrous whole. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 12, 2021