Who needs a band? The Organic Pulse Ensemble certainly doesn’t – it’s just one person: Swedish jazz musician Gustav Horneij. Drums, bass, strings and wind instruments, especially bamboo flutes – everything comes from him. In this way he creates a personal soundtrack. Horneij plays each instrument in turn before layering the tracks on top of each other, like a lasagna with the bolognese in between.
Noodles seem to play a bigger role on his new EP – after all, he called it Bamboo Noodles. Or the EP is called what it is because Horneij noodles around on his flutes, i.e. improvises freely. Anyway, the carbohydrates come in four different flavors: »Instant«, »Udon«, »The Deepest Bowl« and »Picante Beef«. Soundwise this manifests itself in sweeping bass lines, distant harp textures and melodic patterns – mixed with ethno-jazz and eastern influences. These are complex arrangements; the bamboo flutes in the background are a bit of a strain. At least the fourth course, the noodles with spicy beef, finally fills you up – although the whole thing remains nutritious.
