MATS/MORGAN - Schack Tati

Kategorie: CD-Reviews | Genre: Jazz/Jazzrock/Fusion, Electronic | Heft: Jahrgang 2014, eclipsed Nr. 166 / 12-2014 | VÖ-Jahr: 2014 | Wertung: 7.5/10 | Label: Cuneiform | Autor: MaB


The friendship between Mats Öberg and Morgan Ågren has lasted more than 30 years. From 1984 the two Wunderkinder operated a Frank Zappa cover band, but their own creative drive was so strong that several CDs with their own material followed. Nine years after the last studio work "Thanks For Flying With Us" the two congenial Swedes now return with twelve mostly instrumental pieces and show that they have not forgotten anything. "Schack Tati" (an allusion to the Swedish word for chess as well as to the director Jacques Tati) is full of crazy compositions, in which Mats/Morgan constantly move between virtuosity and childlike naive musical pleasure. For example, only a few would come up with the idea of combining minimal music with a style that is best described as "disco-prog" ("Rubber Sky"). All in all this album appeals to both heart and brain, because the grooves remain danceable despite the fusion side. In addition, the two had clearly audible a lot of fun during the recording.

Top track: Walk Here

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