Lotus

Denmark’s El Paraiso has become a haven to EU bands straddling the boundaries of psych, prog, and turbulent jazz. While the former two have always had a home at the label, It’s really in the last few years that the latter has become such a prominent fixture at the label. Once blurring at the edges of the psychedelic fray, now the label’s releases are lacerated with sax and flute, tumbling through discordant visions of post-Miles ‘70s fry. The latest to slip into that sector is Lotus, a Scandinavian jazz outfit that blends serrated Sharrock riffs with the soured sear of Signe Emmeluth’s sax and the polyrhythmic pound of Olaf Olsen (also of El Paraiso band Fra Det Onde).

Partially live, partially a studio creation, the album seethes and sighs, clatters and cuts. Among the assembled players, Karl Bjorå adds the band’s signature, wielding his electric with synth textures, drawing the veil over the vortex as the album mutates through its phases. The opener finds the band massaging the maelstrom, proof of their prowess, a declaration that sets the debut into motion. They cool the burn on “Ballade” before launching into the sidelong singe of “Synthgitar” a 17+ minute marauder that lets the band explore the depths of their sound. It’s a debut that leaves a mark, and hopefully just the start of the band’s journey.