Akmee
Sacrum Profanum
NORWAY NAKAMA RECORDS NKM023 C.D. (2022)
Akmee are a Norwegian fourtet who have been fired up by a group love of improv jazz, contempo classicism and the odd sprinkling of indigenous sacred music(s) ever since their formation back in the late twenty-tens. Nailing those particular genres to the band’s mast unavoidably shunts things towards a Jan Garbareked default setting, which is not always such an enticing prospect. However, in this case, Akmee’s profile holds up particularly well with their follow-up to 2018’s Neptun c.d. Their inventiveness and good grasp of light and shade are more than enough to separate them from those coming from a more sedate/coffee tabled grounding. The sleeve art, where Latin titles meet gothic calligraphy seems to be a telling opening gambit.
Bandmembers Erik Kimestad Pedersen (trumpet), pianist Kjetil Jerve and the rhythm section of bassist Erland Olderskog and Andreas Wildhagen (drums/percussion) would appear to be highly regarded/upper echelon players in and around the Scandinavian triangle. To such a degree that their affiliations with other projects have now become far too numerous to detail. With their dance cards fully marked, all of the recording duties were wrapped up at an Oslo church within the space of one single day. The lure of favourable acoustics and a resident grand piano proving far too great.
No doubt a nod of the head, a raised eyebrow or one of those Miles Davis-styled karate chop moves would be more than enough of a cue from a group member to transform band think in a Norway minute. Like “Zolty” for example, where a sassy opening horn blare melts into a number of cascading piano trills and petulant drum backchat. Or, maybe “Winieta” or “Rozpacz” where the scuttling, shadow-hugging piano lines cross continents and transport the listener to a film noir set in a 1950’s New York tenement. Whichever way you odds it – Sacrum… undoubtedly shows Akmee’s precision, versatility and flexible approach working to full effect.
“Freedom! You are welcome to listen, come to a concert or fuck off – as you please! The quartet wishes you the best anyways…” I’m with you boys! Honest! Hopefully some of that piss’n’vinegar (coming from the accompanying cribsheet), will worm its way into your next release, due in 2026 or thereabouts (?).