Kristian Enkerud Lien's KRISE - Apt Opt Kroma (2025) Hi Res

Apt Opt Kroma, like the debut album Svartsymra, is an avant-garde exploration of sound and musical boundaries by the experimental contemporary ensemble KRISE, led by Kristian Enkerud Lien. The ensemble ventures into new territories by blending just intonation, microtonality, indie rock, and folk music in an innovative way. Through experimentation with ideas from Ben Johnston, Harry Partch, and Eivind Groven, they aim to create a more complex yet captivating musical journey.

As the title suggests, Apt Opt Kroma is an appropriate choice of colour in this music. This reflects the band's work in microtonality and sonority. It also delves into an approach found in Ben Johnston’s profound work with just intonation in a serial chromatic language. The album consists of ten pieces, each offering a different take on this music. The album ranges from indie rock tunes like “Våre riper og hvite hester” to conceptual pieces like “Laus,” and serial compositions such as “Benjo”, to ballads like “Feblater.” The album opens with a nod to Portishead in “Våre riper og hvite hester.” “Laus” is a study of microtonality and modulation. “Eteik” explores melodic and harmonic concepts within a ballad form. “Septimal dans” portrays a septimal dance club, which leads to a depiction of a reversed abyss, “Avrev”. “Presol” is a solo work for just intonation guitar, and “Capsol” is a remembrance of dear Gastr del Sol. “Benjo” is composed for a 46-note octave and modulates between four harmonic centers. “Polygon” is our pyramid song, leading into the final ballad, “Feblater.”