A different sound than usual from the
Fire Orchestra of
Mats Gustafsson, Johan Berthling, and Andreas Werliin – a set that still features the large spontaneous composition style of the group, but which also has them working with singer Mariam Wallentin – whose vocals really add a lot to the whole process! Wallentin's a singer with a very powerful presence – and a style that's more innately tuneful than usual for the
Fire ensemble – which makes for a very unusual, very creative mix with instrumentation that includes
Mats Gustafsson on baritone sax, Per Texas Johansson on bass clarinet and oboe, Isak Hedtjarn on b sharp clarinet and alto, Susana Santos Silva on trumpet, Johan Berthling on bass, and Andreas Werliin on drums. The set also features keyboards from Tomas Hallonsten, which changes things up a bit too – as does the slight use of violin and viola – all of which makes for a record that has the group going way beyond jazz, and opening up a new audience for their sound. Titles include "At Last I Am Free", "I Am A Horizon", "Weekends The Soil Is Calling", "Blue Crystal
Fire", "Silver Trees", and "Dressed In Smoke Blown Away".
(Includes bonus CD of the full album.)