released: august 9, 2024

genre: jazz

from: trondheim, norway

label: backwoodz studioz

a few thoughts: økse is a newly-formed experimental jazz group, including new york- based drummer savannah harris, danish saxophonist mette rasmussen, haitian electronic musician val jeanty and swede petter eldh on bass, synths and sampler. their eponymous debut album is a striking body of work, with a hypnotic and tribal sound that captures the weight and pain of life through harsh and disorienting soundscapes. from the desolate and abrasive opener “skopje” featuring elucid, to the tribal and rhythmic closer “onwards (keep going)”, the density in the compositions make for immersive and transportative listening experiences. from the incredibly heavy drumming throughout on tracks like “three headed axe” and “amar økse”, to the more wailing wind instrumentation on tracks like “fragrance (some days doesn’t have fragrance)”, økse create this heavy, abrasive dystopian energy that’s difficult to shake off. rap features billy woods, elucid, maassai and cavalier delivery poignant and punchy introspective and observational verses channelling the same frantic energy and urgency økse bring with their instrumentation. a memorable album with incredibly emotive and frantic moments, økse are already leaving a mark within the jazz world with intricate and immersive compositions that highlight their talents as composers.

the album: