Runeology 3 (CD)

Independent samplers are usually a mixed bag at best. They are sure to put music on a disc you absolutely want in hopes of getting you interested in other acts that you would not normally pay attention to in a hundred years. Rune Grammophon is different. Very different. For starters, they have a narrower field of concentration: Norwegian artists. Secondly, they have tremendous distribution all over the world. Third and most importantly: there isn't a thing on this label that is substandard in any way. The sheer range of creativity, ambitious conceptualism, and diversity of vanguard music is outrageously wide. This third sampler is as wonderful as the first two. Issued at the very end of 2007, it acts as a review of the year that was passing, and as a preview of the year to come. Trumpeter and electronics pioneer Arve Henricksen's "Leaf and Rock," from his excellent Strjon album, opens the set on a meditative note. It's an elongated, minimally textured and notated work for guitar, bass, saxophone, and electronics, all of them used very sparingly. Next is the gorgeous "Hangout" from singer and songwriter (and harpist) Susanna Wallumrod's Sonata Mix Dwarf Cosmos LP that got real notice on both sides of the Atlantic and in Japan. To move into the more abstract and noisier realms, there's the Scorch Trio (guitarist Raoul Bj”rkenheim's fine band) with "Autio," from its live album which was forthcoming at the time of this release, as was another live date by Humcrush, called "Solar Sail" -- minimal, and a tad more "musical," it is still a true dweller on the threshold of noise and ambience. The true outside craziness comes from Shining, with "Satelmate Longan Runner," off their 2007 Grindstone album. This is all beautiful stuff. Perhaps not for the narrow-minded, but it does give one hope that some label samplers are actually works of art in and of themselves. But then, fans of Rune Grammophon would expect nothing less. ~ Thom Jurek