Hvalfugl (Denmark) – Iturevet almanak (sample track from the album Bag Vore Øjne Strømmer Drømme Sagte Forbi

Its jazz, Jim but not as we know it.

The band with the unpronounceable name, Hvalfugl, is a Danish folk-jazz power trio whose line-up is similar to that of the UK’s GoGo Penguin except that they have no percussion within the trio itself, the rhythm coming from a double bass.

At the end of January they released a huge 25 track double album, ‘Bag Vore Øjne Strømmer Drømme Sagte Forbi’, which translates as ‘Behind Our Eyes Dreams Flow Softly Past’ and which sounds a little psychy, don’t you think? Something that Procul Harum might have dreamt up as they skipped the light fandango.

As much as I’d like to review the entire lot that’s impractical just now so I’ve played my usual trick of selecting a sample track although that was no mean task. With hundreds of thousands of hits on Spotify (they have also released a double vinyl version) it was evident that they produced it out of numerous EPs, and it actually dates back to 2022.

Ultimately I opted for the third track, ‘Iturevet almanak’ (Torn Almanac) if only because it’s had the most hits and it’s the most relaxed and structured form of jazz or folk for that matter that I’ve encountered. I wouldn’t go so far as to say ‘easy listening’ because that would debase it.

I checked out a few of the other tracks. Most follow a similar theme – they could play out the credits to the sort of gentle TV comedy shows that predominated here in the UK in the 1970s to 1990s (think Last of the Summer Wine and The Good Life) but then some are considerably more jazzy, the best example being the second track, ‘Mönstre I Verden’ and which does indeed have shades of GoGo Penguin.

Four of the tracks are collaborations with WHO KILLED BAMBI, which isn’t a Mossad hit squad hunting down Ireland’s 2024 Eurovision entrant but a seven strong female only strings ensemble, who have featured in collaborations with other artists previously in NMC.

They add a bit of bite and tension to the proceedings.

All in all definitely an album for that long drive along the motorway to that business meeting where you’ll clinch the deal in seconds.

They’ve just finished a tour of Sweden and Norway and commenced a larger one in Denmark. Check their Events page on Facebook for places and timings.

Hvalfugl are:

Jonathan Fjord Bredholt (piano and harmonium)

Jeppe Lavsen (guitar)

Anders Juel Bomholt (double bass).

Find them on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hvalfugl.dk