Renowned Norwegian jazz rockers Krokofant have always been at the vanguard of forward-thinking, original music in their native country, and in many ways, they represent the very best of what prog-influenced jazz has to offer. Several things set them apart from their peers, some of which include a certain long-matured musical sensibility and an enthralling interplay. Now reduced to a trio but sounding no less committed or fierce, their new LP titled 6 is a focused piece of work that exudes a whiff of unadulterated joy.
The lustrous 6 combines thick grooves, infectious melodies, and muscular hooks superbly and is surprisingly heavy and hard-hitting in places. The opening riff of ‘Oh My Cod’ immediately recalls the fabulous ‘Hazard Profile, Part 1’ by Soft Machine, and the subtly dark ‘Country Doom’ possesses an emotive resonance that makes it one of the disc’s highlights. Then there is ‘The Ballade’, which is akin to a warped reverie of sorts. No other act could have delivered these tunes this way. Sometimes hypnotic, other times manic, but never boring or predictable, these playful and pulsating tracks capture the passion and vigor of the band’s unique sound, and all the characteristics and trademarks of their previous outputs are firmly embedded in this new material despite a significant change in the line-up. Although one is tempted to name-drop the legendary King Crimson and the aforementioned Soft Machine as points of reference in certain respects, the fact is that Krokofant are unlike any other group out there and that the act of comparing them to others becomes a somewhat futile exercise.
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes this outfit stand out in an otherwise inspired and interesting Norwegian scene, but the soulful nature of their compositions may hold the answer to that. 6 sounds intuitively inventive and is simply a warm and consistently exhilarating set of compositions harbouring charisma. Moving seamlessly from one part to the next and making it all sound effortless pretty much sums up what these musically gifted gentlemen are all about, and their upcoming record stands tall and proud as a true labour of love that rewards repeated listens. This is utterly gripping stuff if you let go.
6 will be released by Is It Jazz? Records on 10 January 2025.
