release date: May 13, 2025
format: digital (10 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Jens Berents Christiansen
label: The Rust Music - nationality: Denmark
Track highlights: 1. "Ascension" - 2. "Stargazer" - 3. "Nebula" - 4. "Pale Blue Dot" - 5. "Above the Horizon" - 6. "Celestial Awe" - 9. "Silver Seed"
Studio album by Danish electronic act Rumpistol ['Space Gun'], a solo project name by Jens Berents Christiansen, which has survived for more than 2 decades as he released his self-titled debut album in 2003. Since the debut Rumpistol has released an abundance of records and Rumpistol has taken part in various collaboration projects, also counting the Danish experimental world music band Kalaha. Nebula may be regarded Rumpistol's ninth regular installation, and here Christiansen has made use of several featuring instrumentalists, which include: Sven Dam Meinild on flutes, EWI, clarinet & saxophone, Maria Jagd on violin & viola, Emil de Waal (from Kalaha) on drums, percussion & bowed metal, Helene Tungelund on Celtic harp, Anders Stig Møller on bass, and Anna Roemer on guitar.
Nebula is an instrumental album, which for me, shares bonds with early Trentemøller - the idm / micro-house elements but it's not 'just' echoing other artists' works, there're obvious original traits and facets from his early releases and it basically represents a style palette that isn't entirely electronic. Rumpistol has been engaged in various genres and styles throughout the years, and in this regeard Nebula showcases elements from space rock, ambient and the world of jazz, which are scattered and more or less heard on these quite different compositions. At times you will find similarities, or say: bits pointing at early electronic synthpop and ambient, but in essence it's only showcasing the strengths of Rumpistol as an orginal shapeshifter, who employs whatever is needed.
Needless say, as an instrumental work, it's music for attentive listening and then it really unfolds the more you listen to it. Given the short time I have known of this new album, I only suspect it will grow on me.
I like it, it's really good. And if you do not know the works of Rumpistol, I leave you to check it out. The act is an international secret of sorts, and I really enjoy albums like Mere rum (2005), Away (2014), After the Flood (2020), and Isola (2022).
Recommended.
