Häpna
Tape : Luminarium (S,2008)****
Tape is a trio with brothers Andreas and Johan Berthling with Tomas Hallonsten. This is their fourth album. Their latest album dated already from 2005 and was produced by Marcus Schmickler. In 2006 they also had collaborated with Japanese duo Tenniscoats for one album, and with Japanese quartet Minamo for another album.
Fundamentally you can say this is very relaxed, moody, lush music based upon a combination of (often two layers of) acoustic, amplified or pedalled guitars with sometimes (also two more layers of) analogue overtone-sensitive keyboards, and also, some electronic subtle sounds which come through naturally like crickets in the background, and a few subtle touches of feathered drums, and what sounds like a trumpet. At its best the group creates a perfect alternative for a natural environment. The instruments, sounds and overtone colours are perfectly adapted to one another. But there are also outro-like improvisations which use minimal patterns in circular movements. Beautiful.
