REVIEWS "Nods Off is a Swedish group that reflects the freshness of the new wave of improvisational music. They have for certain not much with computers and other new technique to do, but on the other hand they connect on to half as much to rock as to jazz and they do dare to break atonality and free rhythm for more conventional elements. With saxophones, guitar, bass and drums they break in somewhere in between one for the style "free" and one for the style "conventional" way of playing. They cook, they crack up and rumble around in the bottom, but in the music there is also composed structures that support a melodic beauty. That gives scope and dynamics while at the same time Stefan Wistrand, Daniel Carlsson, Stefan Larsson and Peter Olsen create a collective expression that feels uniform and distinct. A real progressive record." "JAZZ IMPROVISATION WITH ROCK WEIGHT. Without a lot of fuss Nods Off plays an unusual easily accessible music that navigates between improvisational jazz and experimental rock. Stefan Wistrand’s saxophones open mightily; the notes aren’t unusual but well found. Daniel Carlsson’s electric guitar plows slowly and emphatically, not unlike Finnish American Raoul Björkenheim. Peter Olsen’s urgent and ingenious drums are the band’s propeller. Stefan Larsson’s more conventional electric bass stands for smooth running and steady ground. Forceful steamroller compositions vary with slowly burning beautiful ones, and quite a lot in between. Everything is new, still you feel at home. With its rock oriented drive Nods Off should be able to reach many listeners. Both band and new listeners are to be congratulated." "Think of early-‘70s King Crimson delving into avant garde rock territory, as this Swedish quartet lets it all hang out in a rowdy sort of way. However, the band’s free-flowing habit does not signify a retrofitting of the past. "Ancient beings are called to the fore on In the Space Between, an electrified offering by Nods Off that owes as much to John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders' spiritual contributions as it does to Rock's more experimental ventures. Wistrand spins out mystic phrases on plugged-in reeds, Carlsson jars the senses on electric guitar, Larsson creates deep droning patterns on electric bass, and Olsen fans the bonfire on drums. This Swedish band painstakingly paints elongated prayers to the otherworldly as its boisterous séance attempts to communicate to the netherworld. The illusion perpetuated by the combination of Wistrand's soaring soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone hymns that beckon Carlsson and Larsson into the fray where they coat the scorched environment with their igniting strings. "In the Space Between" is a collaborative effort from Nods Off, a quartet that features Stefan Wistrand on various reeds, Daniel Carlsson on electric guitar, Stefan Larsson on electric bass and percussionist Peter Olsen. Particularly strong are the loud guitar contributions of Daniel Carlsson. His improvisational lines juxtapose the tenor, alto and soprano screeching of Stefan Wistrand. What also struck me about this release is the powerful, heavy-handed drumming of Peter Olsen. His style is one of take-no-prisoners and he often conflicts with the other members of the quartet. If you're looking for a quartet that dabbles in improvisational rock with a punch, Nods Off is a good starting point." "The Swedish group Nods Off is lead from at least ten years by saxophonist Stefan Wistrand, who is introduced at this record date by a quartet, consisting of electric guitarist Daniel Carlsson, electric bassist Stefan Larsson and drummer Peter Olsen. The four musicians move with free decision and pride in free jazz territory, leaving the road stub for progressive rock’s full load of energy and luminescence. The climate is turbulent, loaded with electronics, pervaded from an obvious tension that mounts from the energetic moving force of the drummer and in the thick expressive implications of the guitarist. The leader demonstrates great mastery of the instrument and is the planning member, always giving the feeling of having the perfect control of the rudder, without never to rerun to the automatic pilot rifle. The nine compositions are all originals signed by Stefan Wistrand who, in some cases, takes advantage of the collaboration of the drummer Olsen and the bassist Larsson. One of the compositions summarizes them; the conclusive "The Call" instead is signed collectively by the group, giving a clear indication that the technique of ' instant composition' is important in these contexts." "Fusing rock-like instrument approach and free jazz. Original stance featuring inventive timbre mixes, simultaneously unfolding solos, offering a refreshing stream of ideas. Open forms, apparently loosely constructed, bear a great intricacy of weave. Constantly shifting pulses, sound layers carefully laid out in a thoroughly original proposal." "The Swedish improvisational scene today has quite too few names. Nods Off though is one of the foremost with their blending of free jazz and something they themselves call experimental rock. Sounds wild and it sure is." "On their third fullength CD Eskilstuna’s freeform gang number one shows that improvisational music can embrace both rock and jazz and added to that be both structured and melodic. Fifteen years from the founding Nods Off is again formed around the original setting of Stefan Wistrand on saxophones, Stefan Larsson on bass and Peter Olsen on drums and where not the least the newcomer in shape of Daniel Carlsson on guitar gives the dynamic excursions a definite progressive turn. Like ear wash for ears bloated by musical nonsense." Nods Off has been featured on US radio playlists with the tune "In Leaf" from their latest album. See WNUR Jazz Chicago (John Corbett & Peter Kostakis) and Aural Innovations (Jerry Kranitz).
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