Bolts is the seventh album of the Norwegian, Bergen-based power quartet Møster!, led by reed player and composer Kjetil Møster, and with Hans Magnus «Snah» Ryan (of Motorpsycho), bassist Nikolai Hængsle (of Elephant 9, Needlepoint, and Knut Reiersrud Band), and drummer Kenneth Kapstad (ex Motorpsycho). The album was recorded live on an intense four-day session at Duper Studio in Bergen with Møster!’s «fifth Møster», producer Jørgen Træen.

Bolts is a kind of yin to Møster!’s previous album, Springs‘ (Action Jazz, 2024) yang. Springs was a distinct studio album, full of sonic finesse and intricate details. Bolts, as its cover artwork suggests, goes back to Møster!’s basic elements. Its sound is primal, dirty, loud, and fierce, with no keyboards or additional percussive instruments, and with all musicians focusing on their instruments, except Møster, who adds electronics. Møster! Is making full use of Møster!’s inexhaustible musical energy as a live band. There are brief touching, lyrical moments, but most of the time, Møster! explodes in the studio.

Møster! created five highly potent and super-intense force fields of raw fusion, psychedelic rock and free jazz and sticks to its most intuitive, rock-solid, muscular drive, and end in an electric, noisy storm. Bolts suggests the closest thing to experiencing Møster! live, as close as possible, when its massive sound deeply vibrates within your body long after the performance is over. Sounds like an inspiring, invigorating experience anyone with a sound mind should be entitled to.

Eyal Hareuveni

Kjetil Møster (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophones, clarinet, electronics), Hans Magnus Ryan (electric guitar), Nikolai Hængsle (electric bass), Kenneth Kapstad (drums)