moLd: Rotten in Rodby

This quartet of young Danes combines a disparate mix of styles and influences: postrock, free jazz, cool jazz, nonidiomatic free improv, serialism, microtonalism, laptop-based sound sculpting. Attempts to fuse on such a scale often result in an inorganic pastiche. Not here. Mold’s work, stylistically far-flung though it might be, seems perfectly natural.

Saxophonist/clarinetist Anders Banke and trumpeter Stephan Meinberg are decent improvisers. Neither burns, but they’re both smart and technically adept. Guitarist/knob-twiddler Mark Solborg is an incisive colorist and a bit of a skronkish wild card within the ensemble. Drummer/percussionist Peter Bruun is texturally astute and an exciting presence when the band kicks out the jams. All four band members contribute compositions. Together, they model an identifiable collective character. The solos are more than competent, certainly, but the individual personalities have less to do with the music’s success than the band’s commitment to developing an original group sound.

Originally Published March 1, 2006