Almost All Things Considered

As long as Elin Forkelid keeps making music then Sail Cabin Records looks poised to present a wonderful array of releases waving the flag for contemporary Swedish jazz.

Currently the home to projects by the band in question, SOL SOL, as well as to Forkelid’s own ‘Elin Forkelid Plays For Trane’, Sail Cabin already boats some sensational music as a showcase for ongoing projects by the revered saxophonist, bandleader and composer.

The new release by SOL SOL actually marks their third full-length album and is an exceptional project to aptly demonstrate the quartet’s growth and continual evolution. A more than worthy successor to SOL SOL’s previous release, ‘What Year Is It?’ (Sail Cabin Records, 2022), ‘Almost All Things Considered’ enthusiastically dips from an even deeper well of inspiration as it seeks to have each track wholly distinguishable from the ones before and after.

Alongside Forkelid on saxophones, SOL SOL is further comprised of David Stackenäs on guitar, Mauritz Agnas on double bass and Anna Lund on drums – a true powerhouse unit that have stumbled onto something incredibly special in regards to their undeniable chemistry together.

When regarding Sail Cabin’s inaugural release in Forkelid’s aforementioned ode to saxophonist John Coltrane (‘Elin Forkelid Plays For Trane’, 2020), the album itself provided so many clues as to the bold vision that would have been in store for the label. Boasting a series of beloved Coltrane treasures including ‘Central Park West’ and ‘Resolution’, the selections were tackled with loving care and reimagined with the charm and personality indicative of SOL SOL’s perceptions of their own music.

‘Almost All Things Considered’ at six tracks and 44 minutes demonstrates some of SOL SOL’s most exciting work to date as they embrace a multitude of varying styles and influences for the album openly citing the works of Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell and Ornette Coleman as strong inspirations for the album. And it’s an eclecticism that fuels the project in blissfully enthralling ways… from the explosive and unbridled energy of album opener ‘Elena’, to the meandering and bluesy swing of ‘If not, Marbles’ to the maybe slightly tongue in cheek ‘Can I Have The Bill, Please?’ which plays as a suitably sombre affair in ways that perhaps we can all relate to.

The exquisite soul-infused ‘First Days of Spring’ soars as the absolute album highlight however as the composition’s sun-kissed notes practically beam through your speakers.

Seemingly bound by their commitment to continually push the boundaries of, not just their music, but the general aesthetic of contemporary Swedish jazz, SOL SOL have once again reinvented themselves and the expectations that listeners now have of their music.