Album Notes

SOTU are a jazz quintet from Oslo, Norway that combine energetic live performances with a poignant sense of melody, mixing up a wide range of styles in the process; folk, balkan, ska, flamenco and more.

SOTU was formed in 2006 by alto saxophonist Tim Lowerson and bassist Ture Ringereide. These two are also the main composers in the group. They’ve been playing concerts regularly around the Norwegian capital in clubs, cafes and bars since that time. After recording an EP in 2007 which they distributed by hand they released their first album in 2009, the eponymous Sounds of the Unexpected. The album was well received with positive reviews and radio play in Norway and abroad. In 2012 the band released their 2nd album. The album’s name Villspor translates as "astray" or "the wrong track" and is partly a reference to the band’s philosophy of willingly letting themselves be musically led astray and partly a reference to the band’s outsider status in their home music scene.
Both their albums were recorded live in an old log cabin that they borrowed off a friend for the occasion. They were recorded in the old-fashioned way, with the band all in the same room and facing each other. This gives the albums a rough around the edges feel whilst at the same time preserving the energy and spontaneity of a live performance. Both albums were recorded in the space of a few days.

Whilst the music certainly reflects a wide range of styles there are some common themes. The music generally has a strong melodic sensibility. Their songs typically combine extensive arrangements with improvised sections, with each soloist improvising over a different musical section than the last. In this sense their music is more reminiscent of 1930s small band jazz à la Lester Young and Count Basie, than more modern jazz styles typified by simpler head, solo, head arrangements (although they do employ this type of arrangement as well). Another theme that is typical in their music is rhythmical variation, with the band doubling the tempo or switching to another time signature in the middle of a piece.

The band’s name is both a reference to Roald Dahls Tales of the Unexpected and a reflection of the band’s desire to maintain an open attitude towards the various influences that colour their music. The band play music they like and aren’t always bothered as to whether it fits into the jazz category or not. Some have called them a DIY jazz quintet, implying that they aren’t really a jazz group. They certainly don’t quite fit in with their contemporaries on the Oslo music scene. This is reflected in the independent, DIY philosophy that typifies their approach to music making, creating, recording and releasing their own music without the support of others, financial and otherwise.