Fattigfolket - Park (2011) [Hi-Res]

Collecting eleven of these blissful moments, Fattigfolket's first internationally distributed full-length after two albums published in their current homebase of Denmark, has turned out a subtle concept work. Revolving around a variety of parks mostly based in Germany, the music of the group, whose name translates to „the poor people“ in reference to Norway's explosive growth in wealth over the past century, doesn't just trivially port the visual impressions to the realm of sounds, but attempts a translation of potentially complex emotions into immediate compositions. As such, they are intriguingly reveal details invisible to the eyes and ears of the casual visitor: Berlin's Pfaueninsel, a somewhat secretive island in the heart of Germany's capital, sounds surprisingly vivid and uplifting, while Nuremberg's Marienberg Park, which has turned into a social meeting point over the past years, displays its more intimate side on this occasion.

These contrasts provide an ideal framework for the group to work with mood, melody and colour. Writing credits are distributed between saxophonist and clarinetist Hallvard Godal as well as bassist Putte Johander and stylistically, the album stretches from slow, seductive grooves to the brittle, sombre acoustics of „Innocentia Park“. All pieces, meanwhile, benefit from the flexible interaction between Godal and hornsman Hunnar Halle. Rather than taking on conventional solo roles, both are constantly re-thinking their position, acting as harmonic support for the other in one moment only to engage in challenging duo-exchanges the next. Thanks to this perpetual flux „Park“ sounds anything like a typically melancholic collection of Jazz-ballads. It is not so much musical impressionism, but inner silence Fattigfolket are after – and in doing so, they are taking listeners to their own little park in their mind.

Gunnar Halle, Trumpet
Hallvard Godal, Sax, Clarinet
Putte Johander, Bass
Ole Morten Sommer, Drums

Tracklist:
01. Fattigfolket - Pfaueninsel Park (Putte Johander) (5:50)
02. Fattigfolket - Brentanopark (Hallvard Godal) (5:57)
03. Fattigfolket - Barnim Park (Hallvard Godal) (4:57)
04. Fattigfolket - Hesperides Park (Hallvard Godal) (2:54)
05. Fattigfolket - Lohrpark (Hallvard Godal) (4:18)
06. Fattigfolket - Mauerpark (Putte Johander) (4:17)
07. Fattigfolket - Tierpark (Hallvard Godal) (4:48)
08. Fattigfolket - Innocentia Park (Hallvard Godal) (3:14)
09. Fattigfolket - Marienberg Park (Hallvard Godal) (5:40)
10. Fattigfolket - Grunewald (Putte Johander) (5:05)
11. Fattigfolket - Agra Park (Godal/Johander) (4:35)