Review of Doors of Perception by Raoul Bjorkenheim – eCsTaSy, Cuneiform Records, 2017
https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/doors-of-perception
Being a vynil records collector, what can i say? What a great cover! This record has one of those old-fashioned covers of still would be really nice to see in a 12 “ edition, a real dada photo shoot, a collage almost closer to Mimmo Rotella’s art.
But if the package is nice the content is no less. There must be something special in Northern Europe, something in the air, in the water, in the atmosphere that makes it particularly good for jazz guitarists. Raoul Bjorkenheim and many others, musicians like Terry Rypdal, Stian Westerhus, Aarn, Eivind Aarset, are a perfect example. All remarkable musicians, able to play solo and in group, improvisers and at the same time leaders and composers. Raoul Bjorkenheim is part of this array that has long kept us astonished, enchanted and excited by giving us always new excellent music.
This Door of Perception is the third record made with Cuneiform Records and the fourth with eCsTaSy band, where Bjorkenheim is accompanied by three travel companions: the talented drummer Markku Ounaskari, Björkenheim’s partner for several years, the young and virtuoso bassist Jori Huhtala and the excellent Sax player Pauli Lyytinen. Ten songs on this cd, which already refer to Aldus Huxley’s visions, making up a record with strong visions. A disk that strikes for the intensity and interplay between the various components, for their ability to exchange roles, dialogs and music messages that ultimately generate a consistent mix and different colors.
Raoul Bjorkenheim is confirmed as one of the most interesting and creative voices available in the world of electric guitar, he always shows us his new and exciting search for new possibilities.
NeuGuitars 