Why Kai is the outfit of Norwegian pianist and electronic musician Kai von der Lippe, a jazz musician but also a journeyman with extensive experience in electronic dance music. The EP «Deep Fishing» Why Kai – Kai von der Lippe with the help of drummer Elias Tafjord – attempts to reconcile these musical universes. The five, short evolving pieces improvised jazz elements are blended with danceable rhythms and heavy bass, as well as incorporating field recordings.
These pieces offer distinct moods – restless and persistent dance shuffle on «Water Dance»; the easy-going ambiance of a seaside city on «Pling»; the automotive disco beats of «Wherever»; the mellow and ethereal yet emotional ambiance of the brief «Crab»; and Why Kai’s kind of retrofuturism on the last «Futuma». Much more dance beats than convincing improvisation skills.
I guess that the live performances of Why Kai, as a quartet with Daniela Reyes on accordion and Jo David Lysne on synths, acoustic guitar and visuals, realize better its mission – a multimedia journey where retro films, animations and MIDI-triggered robots are an integral part of the sonic-visual experience.
Eyal Hareuveni
Kai von der Lippe (p, synth, elec, field rec); Elias Tafjord (dr)
