Jazznyt Translation - A Box of Monkeys

Mmmmm...indiepopjazz

Haftor Medbøe Group: A Box of Monkeys (Fabrikant Records)

The Scotland based guitarist Haftor Medbøe is again current with his latest group recording. It makes its way into largely untrod territory. They play jazz with a good helping of melodious indie-pop - and of the British kind. Beats etc. programmer Gavin Hislop has been included in the group and makes a solid footprint on the recording. As has singer Anneke Kampman, who makes you think both of Bjork and Elizabeth Fraser from the Cocteau Twins. She's on two of the ablum's five tracks.

A sense of melody is one of the carrying forces on Medbøe's recording. He, along with the rest of the group, is really adept at uncovering the many fine details in the music without making things messy or unfathomable. There's constantly a lot going on but with a good pop melody gliding over the top of it. As for example is the case with 'Leaving Nothing As We Leave' which could easily make it onto the DRK P3 playlist. (Here I should mention that the track includes a cheeky trombone so it's probably a step too far for P3's programming department, but for the rest of you a good poptune worth downloading on i-tunes.

The Danish element of the group is the bassist, Eva Malling, who when at home plays with the singer Anna Kruse and Erling Kroner. Saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski and trombonist Chris Greive provide the group with sonic lift and edge.

Niels Overgaard - Jazznyt - December 2009