Swedish, Copenhagen-based guitarist and composer Henrik Olsson’s Antumbra Ensemble is a sort of extension of his previous project, Penumbra Ensemble, which released its self-titled album in 2014. The Antumbra Ensemble offers a colorful, wild ride that restlessly shapeshifts between avant-rock, with references to the unpredictable aesthetics of Henry Cow, the eccentric humor of Frank Zappa’s fusion bands, and the complex textures and timbres of Henry Threadgill’s groundbreaking Very Very Circus band.
Olsson’s labyrinthian and kaleidoscopic compositional process is intuitive, and he plays until he finds the right musical figure, then tosses it about in repetition to discover everything it has to offer. He constantly had to ask a piece what comes before or what comes after. Each of the eight pieces is structured like a sonic jigsaw puzzle of disparate ideas with distinct inner logic and powerful groove, and all demand to zoom out to fully grasp their «big picture». Olsson notes that he wanted to create a similar experience he had as a kid, missing the times when he «really got into a record», wanted to live in its world, and «could smell and taste and discover new things».
The Antumbra Ensemble features seven gifted musicians from Copenhagen’s vibrant scene – Slovak alto sax player Michaela Turcerová, Norwegian trumpeter Erik Kimestad Pedersen, and Danish trombonist and recorder player Petter Hängsel, tubist Kristian Tangvik, bassist Jeppe Skovbakke, and drummer Rune Lohse (Tangvik, Skovbakke, and Lohse have played before in Olsson’s Hand of Benediction band), and Olsson on electric guitar, synths, and «sounds».
The Ensemble recorded this boundary-pushing album between October 2024 and July 2025, and faithfully captures Olsson’s highly versatile, adventurous, and energetic musical vision. The ensemble spices the ever-evolving, rich sonic palette with shiny, psychedelic «cosmic dust» (as one of the pieces is titled «Hey Pedo, It’s Just Cosmic Dust»), and a strong penchant for shifting grooves and infectious yet unorthodox, surreal melodic ideas. Throughout this wild ride, you may trace more influences from Sun Ra’s forward-thinking sound, the folky psychedelia of the Incredible String Band, and the old-school R&B of Astrid Gilberto.
Eyal Hareuveni
Henrik Olsson (electric guitar, synthesizers, sounds), Michaela Turcerová (alto saxophone), Erik Kimestad Pedersen (trumpet), Petter Hängsel (trombone, recorder), Kristian Tangvik (tuba), Jeppe Skovbakke (electric bass), Rune Lohse (drums)
