WIBUTEE:
PLAYMACHINE
2004
Wibutee – Playmachine (2004)
Håkon Kornstad – tenor and bass saxophones, flute, flutonette, live looping, Per Zanussi – bass and electronics, Wetle Holte – drums and electronics, Håvard Wiik – fender rhodes, Hild Sofie Tafjord – horn, voice
Wibutee reveal their third album for Jazzland Recordings, titled Playmachine. The title receives its name from when the band gathered for a listening session and were overwhelmed by surprising sounds they recorded flowing from the speakers – sounds which seemed to be created through the actual recording moment, almost unconsciously. They quickly realized they had achieved their goal to create the “unheard sound”. Where Eight Domestic Challenges was dreamy and surreal, Playmachine is an absolutely “in-your-face” experience.
Instruments change functions rapidly, from a solo spot to a rhythm instrument, and before you know it, you are grappling with trying to decide if you hear loops or actual recordings. Inspired by the roots of jazz-rock, the funky has become funkier, the hard even harder. And then beautifully sweet and light. Music crossing boundaries, defying categories. Pure Wibutee.
Fräsig funk, flippad frijazz, eterisk electronica. Det här är musik som helt kapat förtöjningarna. Jag lyssnar om och om igen, blir aldrig färdig. Årets ljudäventyr. Dagens Nyheter (SE), April 2005
Wibutee, das Quartett des Saxofonisten Hakon Kornstad, legt mit seinem dritten Streich noch einmal richtig los. (…) Wenn man seine Musik schon im Schlaf spielen kann, das ist schon einen Asbach Uralt wert – oder wie Wibutee sagen: „We are in space, so are you.“ Jazzthing (DE), April 2005
The track ably serves to make the listener sit up, pay attention and possibly even dance around the room. (…) This is an album that it’s possible to listen to again and again, each time discovering new sonic details and revelling in the beauty of the songwriting. Highly recommended. JazzWise (UK), March 2005
Jede Entwicklung ist eine Überraschung, die Programmierung makellos, Holtes drumming und Kornstads Saxophon klischefrei und frisch, die Kompositionen sind so simpel wie effektiv. JazzThetik (DE), March 2005
Likely to appeal equally to electronica buffs and the more “out” end of the jazz audience, Wibutee offers a welcome and refreshing sound from the Oslo underground. AllAboutJazz (US), March 2005
On Playmachine, their third album for Jazzland Recordings, the Norwegian quartet Wibutee have struck one of the best blends of jazz and electronica I’ve ever heard. (Matthew Wuethrich) Dusted Magazine (US)
One of the most impressive of Oslo’s current creative wave, and certainly the boldest ‘new conception of jazz’ to come out on Jazzland so far. (Rob Young) The Wire (UK), October 2004
Wibutee’s sound has more in common with the rich production techniques developed by pop producers like Timbaland or the Neptunes than the jazz productions of Manfred Eicher or Alfred Lion. Signal to Noise (US), Autumn 2004
If Bowie had abandoned pop and rock after his Berlin years, and instead of making “Let’s Dance” had knuckled down to saxophone practice and formed an arty jazz band, the Norwegian based Wibutee is what he might have sounded like by 2004. (8 of 10) Stylus Magazine (US), September 2004
Wibutee gør det rigtigt fedt. Her er vitterligt tale om et konstruktivt møde mellem to verdener. Her er både plads til dansabel, funky bas og en fuldfed sax og til mere eksperimenterende, fint skrøbelige og elektronisk manipulerede numre, men hele tiden med en klar improvisatorisk tilgang. DR (Danish Radio), September 2004
No more crises please: the world needs Wibutee. BBC (UK), September2004
At once creative, clever and captivating, yet accessible and emotional, this album refuses to settle down as the band explores a wide range of sonic landscapes, from the funk-infused title track, Ear Traffic or Rodeo-activity to the experimental Glør, We Are In Space, So Are You and Mummy or the vast plains of Country Practice and Gerewol. (4.7 of 5) TheMilkFactory.co.uk, July 2004
«1-800-Skauen» kunne sneket seg med på en av Tortoises to siste utgivelser, «Country Practice» høres ut som et cut up, saksofonisert Sigur Rós. Dagbladet (NO), June 8, 2004
Men inn fra venstre kommer kvartetten Wibutee, og plutselig har vi en virkelig utfordrer til Nils Petter Molvær på toppen av pallen. (…) Endelig en samling moderne musikere som blander hissig skurrende samtidslyder med glatte jazzlinjer, tungt drivende bass og rett frem fengende popmelodier. Aftenposten (NO), June 3, 2004
