Frisk Verden

Frisk Verden translates from Danish as Fresh World, an acknowledgement both of Mike Nielsen’s Scandinavian routes and his eclectic approach, which come to the fore here in a musical travelogue with aspects of flamenco, Indian and Balkan music. Its also the latest chapter in his long and fruitful collaboration with adventurous US vocalist Ellen Demos, joining the band from Brussels, where she’s now based, in a quartet completed by Brendan Doyle focusing on clarinets and Shane O’Donovan taking a colouristic approach to the drums. Nielsen is in acoustic mode, and the signature dark tone is there, as is that unique harmonic concept and solos that are refreshingly free of cliché.