Norwegian guitarist and pedal steel player Trond Kallevåg has assembled a crack trio of fellow Norwegian musicians to bring his fourth album, Minnesota, to life on the acclaimed Hubro label. Exploring the magic of the Norwegian coastlines while maintaining a steady eye on the American Midwest, Trond’s band features the intuitive musicianship of violinist Tuva Halse, drummer Gard Nilssen and double bassist Mats Eilertson, who come together to weave wonderfully dynamic and surprising soundscapes, bringing in jazz, folk and ambience to result in a unique sound.
From the first listen, it is clear that there is a very deft and creative touch to this music, but a playfulness also quickly emerges. Twins of Træna enjoys a stop-start melody, with pedal steel slinking around some wonderful violin work and furtive bass lines. The chord changes give the sound a strong sense of narrative, while a plucked string melody, the part that underpins the whole song, brings a hint of capering to the music.
In contrast to this are songs like Houses, which uses clean-picked electric guitar, brushed percussion, and long violin strokes to complete a picture of melancholy. The violin, in particular, is mesmerising here, with Halse’s freedom and confidence bringing a sense of life and emotion to the sound that the other players are happy to allow to flourish. Towards the end of the song, Kallevåg’s guitar becomes more central and the violin backs off somewhat, completing a neat switch to the setup.
Elsewhere, The Boat Song brings us back to a simpler sound at the start, with short bowed double bass and picked high notes on the guitar matching the violin strokes. The percussion here is super-light, almost a texture, and its sudden pause while the music shifts into a darker and more serious style is spot on. In the second half, the violin transitions into a sinister sound, with eerie little shards, while a hint of guitar reverb adds a different dimension to the sound. It’s totally ace; strange, quite theatrical and impeccably performed.
Red Stranger could be either the plains of the American Midwest or the stark coastlines of Norway, such is its spacious, almost harsh sound in places. Here, Nilssen’s percussion brings in brass cymbal clangs, wooden knocks and brighter tings, while the violin provides ghostly slices of odd sound and the bowed bass growls. These sit alongside a pensive guitar part to form an eerie highlight, contrasting with the following song, Lighthouse Boogie, a fun little piece with a European style and as slinky as you like. The guitar and violin duet comes together tightly, with playful bass and drums holding the beat and allowing a lively, vibrant piece to unfold.
Every song here is a piece of serious creativity, played by some gifted musicians who were clearly enjoying each other’s company. The quality throughout is at the highest level, without any duds or moments of freewheeling. It’s an album made by artists with a broad range of musical knowledge and the ability to switch genres seamlessly, but it’s also simply an absolute joy to listen to.
Minnesota (OCtober 24th, 2025) Hubro