The double album "The Road Is Just a Surface" stems from a theater piece created in collaboration with choreographer Jo Strømgren. It stands on its own two feet as a musical experience. With the album, Garbarek has created his own, holistic and intricate universe, and the listener gets to dive deeper and deeper with each listen. The wealth of detail constantly provides new discoveries, and […]
/ 05/03/2020 / codexThe double album "The Road Is Just a Surface" stems from a play created in collaboration with choreographer Jo Strømgren. It stands on its own two feet as a musical experience. With the album, Garbarek has created a unique, holistic and intricate universe, and the listener gets to dive deeper and deeper with each listen. The wealth of detail constantly provides new discoveries and creates new connections, without the album feeling overloaded or diffuse. "The Road Is Just a Surface" is a work to sink into, which grows and expands. Anja Garbarek is not afraid of the musically unexpected or unfamiliar, and weaves in sounds from everyday life: An alarm clock. A spinning bass. A piece of tape. The listener gets to take part in an expanded soundscape, one that is always rhythmically based. It has a pulse, but is at the same time melodically beautiful and melancholic, with lyrics that revolve around existential themes such as belonging and mental illness.