Reviews 2070

Though they only met two days prior to the recording of this two wholly improvised release, they interlock and intersect brilliantly. This is jazzrock, but there´s no need to shudder. This is a jazzrock informed by the old and the ultra-modern, with jabs of electronics jabbing the jamming into more abstract terrain, faintly echoing Miles Davis circa "A Tribute To Jack Johnson. 4/5.
Uncut (UK)

Experimental improvisation. Two words that can strike fear into the hearts of many, and with good reason in some cases. Not so with Box. The improvisational nature of the project actually works extremely well, with all four musicians clearly at the top of their game, responding to each other superbly and capturing some inspired moments, sounding like a more sinister vesrion of Tortoise. Whilst all instruments meld together effectively, what particularly stands out over the course of the album is the drumming and bass playing. So, a suitably ridiculous moniker for this highly abstract but thoroughly enticing music? Easy. Organic prog-tronica.
Clash (UK)

The Box four-piece, including members of Mr Bungle and Supersilent, mash up rattling electronics with serious axe-wankery and sonorous viola, pinned down by a constantly revving rhythm section, always seemingly on the edge of imploding on itself. All is functional, from the blank cover art to the untitled but numbered tracks. All takes are live and in one, raw as fuck and capable of bringing dirt and heat to bare spaces
Plan B (UK)

Four renowned freestylers unite on a Stockholm-based art project. The result is challenging yet listenable, as might be expected from people who´ve previously collaborated with Bill Laswell, Kronos Quartet and Frank Zappa. The opening "Untitled 9" is 17 minutes of doom-prog and the other five tracks seldom veer from the sinister. It´s hardly jazz, more psychedelic jamming that might just appeal to fans of The Mars Volta
Q (UK)

Instead of the expected rock fusion monster Box turn out to be more mercurial, cleverly shifting from soaring Mahavishnu Orchestra guitar excursions and itchily drummed glitch rock embellishments to the kind of Frank Zappa-styled compositional gymnastics that you either love or loath.
The Wire (UK)

This avant-supergroup wastes no time whipping up a free-rock freak out that must have had the windows rattling. Björkenheim is never shy of the histrionic gesture and here he indulges in the kind of fusion lift-off that went out of fashion a long time ago - while still making it sound fresh and urgent. He also finds a perfect foil in Storløkken´s intelligent keys, never taking solos per se, but constantly adding unexpected background colour and depth. Yet it´s the rhythm section that holds it all together, with a relentless, high-energy, funky onslaught that´s both solid and slippery at the same time.
Jazzwise (UK)

Sache ist, dass im spontanen Brain- und Soundstorming 6 Tracks entstanden, die man jedem in die Hand drücken kann, der nach dem Stand von Free Rock heute fragt. Dunn & Ågren bilden eine an Fülle, Flexibilität und Dynamik schwer zu überbietende Rhythmsection, ohne dabei kopflos den schnellen Fingern freie Hand zu lassen... Ågren & Dunn geben Stoff, die Keyboards werden immer deliranter und nach einem letzten Luftholen rammt die Gitarre das Tor zum Paradies. So muss das sein. Wie denn sonst?
Bad Alchemy (DE)

Box er en glimrende grunn til å holde seg inne foran stereo-anlegget. Finske Raoul Björkenheim, norske Ståle Storløkken, svenske Morgan Ågren og amerikanske Trevor Dunn braker uforberedt sammen i heseblesende improlek. Resultatet er en hasardiøs miks av prog-rock, fusion-jazz, metal-energi og urovekkende elektronikk.
Ny Tid (NO)

Box byr på fri improvisasjon av høyeste klasse, rocka, melodiøs og utfordrende. Det åpner med et 17 minutters epos som organisk bølger fra stillhet til eruptive lydkaskader, der Björkenheim utforsker celloens flageolett-toner. De andre kuttene er kortere og mer idé- og groovemessig fokusert. Spor fem veksler mellom tungt insisterende metallriff og ettertenksomme mellomspill, mens avslutningssporet er mer elegisk i karakteren. Dette er improvisasjon på sitt beste, der drevne musikere øser av et enormt forråd og lydhørt egger hverandre til å yte maksimalt. 5/6.
VG (NO)

Selv om Box på papiret er en supergruppe faller de befriende nok aldri i flinkisfella. Allerede fra første minutt er det en gruppe vi hører, ikke fire individer som slåss om å ta mest plass. Åpningssporet er 17 minutter med veksling mellom passivaggressive oppbygninger i god Rhys Chatham-ånd og ekstatiske støypartier. Resten av plata fortsetter med variasjonen mellom subtile komposisjoner og fullstendig anarki, i det som er et herlig og uprentensiøst tilskudd til Rune Grammofons katalog. 5/6.
Ikon (NO)

http://www.experimusic.com

http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk

http://www.allaboutjazz.com

http://www.themetropolitan.ca

http://www.rockfeedback.com

http://www.digitalisindustries.com

http://www.cokemachineglow.com

http://brainwashed.com

http://thesilentballet.com

http://www.almostcool.org

http://mapsadaisical.wordpress.com

http://www.dustedmagazine.com