Last Two Inches of Sky

by Eivind Aarset | Jan Bang

supported by

Deni Double Exquisite, fallen in love with this album. Fav track could change, so much here…headphones 🤗🎧 Favorite track: Fire Dancer.

more...

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

€10 EUR or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Compact Disc Edition

Includes unlimited streaming of Last Two Inches of Sky via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 1 day

€15 EUR or more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Vinyl LP Edition

Includes unlimited streaming of Last Two Inches of Sky via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 1 day

€19.99 EUR or more

1.	Fire Dancer 05:24 video	buy track
2.	Legion 05:02	buy track
3.	City Never Sleeps 03:44	buy track
4.	Seraphine 03:27	buy track
5.	Hush Now (Peaceful) 06:11	buy track
6.	Minute Warning 05:46	buy track
7.	Last Two Inches of Sky 05:57	buy track
8.	Two Predators Circle Above a Forest 04:45	buy track

about

«Last Two Inches of Sky», released by Punkt Editions on 23 September, is an ambitious and engaging mixture of sonic painting and art-pop; a new high point in Eivind Aarset and Jan Bang’s collective output.

Aarset and Bang have collaborated since the early 1990s in constellations with, among others, Nils Petter Molvær, Bugge Wesseltoft, Sly & Robbie and Jon Hassell. «Snow Catches on her Eyelashes» (2020) was their first recording as a duo, an album that was widely praised, inspiring John Eyles of All About Jazz to write: «Aarset, Bang and company go from strength to strength, as does the Norwegian scene. Onward and upward.»

«Last Two Inches of Sky» further expands this sonic universe – onward and upward. Like its predecessor, the new recording is an amalgam of styles, linked together by Jan Bang’s hallmark sampling technique and Eivind Aarset's continuous exploration of the guitar. Now, the rhythm section of Audun Erlien (bass) and Anders Engen (drums) are prominent on most tracks, and the arrangements are enhanced by guests like Gianluca Petrella (trombone), Adam Rudolph (percussion), Emanuel Birkeland-Bang (drum programming) and Erik Honoré (samples, lyrics on «Legion»).

Both conceptually and sonically, «Last Two Inches of Sky» is a multi-dimensional experience of dreams within dreams, layers upon layers of colours, light and shade. While the seamlessness and warmth of the duo’s earlier work is still present, the new album is thoroughly grounded in a bass/beat foundation owing much to the Jamaican sound systems of the 1970s, but placed within a decidedly 2020s context.

At times the music crosses from abstract soundpainting into melodic art-pop territory, primarily on the two vocal pieces, still with a distinctive dub feeling at its core: «Legion» with vocals by Nona Hendryx (founder member of Labelle) and the title track sung by Tim Elsenburg of British quartet Sweet Billy Pilgrim.

On this track, with its Icarus-inspired imagery of ambition, risk and hope, Tim Elsenburg yearns for the hollow bones of birds; light enough for the protagonist to break free, to soar:

Everything I know is like a rope around the ankles
Hollow out my bones and take me higher
To the last two inches of sky

Listening with your eyes closed, this is exactly the escape that Eivind Aarset and Jan Bang’s powerful new album offers you. Close to the sun, perhaps, but grounded by the beat.

***
«Last Two Inches of Sky» will be released by Punkt Editions on 23 September. In addition to a release concert at Punkt on 2 September, where Aarset/Bang are joined by Audun Erlien (bass) and Hamid Drake (drums), the duo will go on tour in November with Audun Erlien (bass) and Samuel Rohrer (drums)

credits

released September 29, 2023

Jan Bang - MPC programming, live sampling, synthesiser, LFO creatures, textures

Eivind Aarset - Guitars and electronics, additional bass

Audun Erlien - Bass

Anders Engen - Drums

Adam Rudolph - Percussion

Nona Hendryx - Vocals on "Legion"

Time Elsenburg - Vocals, synthesizer, piano on "Last Two Inches of Sky"

Erik Honoré - Synthesizer, treatments on "City Never Sleeps", mix on "Last Two Inches of Sky"

Gianluca Petrella - Trombone on "Legion"

Samples*
Building Instrument (on "Last Two Inches of Sky")
Arve Henriksen (on "City Never Sleeps")

* Used by kind permission

***

Music composedby Jan Bang and Eivind Aarset except
"City Never Sleeps" composed by Bang/Aarset/Honoré
"Legion" lyrics by Erik Honoré and Nona Hendryx
"Last Two Inches of Sky" composed by Bang/Aarset/Elsenburg. Lyrics by Elsenburg.

Mixed by Bjarne Stensli at Rainbow Studio, Oslo.
"Last Two Inches of Sky" co-produced by Tim Elsenburg and mixed by Erik Honoré at The Green Room, Oslo.
Mastered by Mike Grinser at Manmade Mastering, Berlin.
Artwork and design by Nina Birkeland.
Writers and Publishing: Copyright Control except "Legion" published by Eat Your Heart Out Music / Copyright Control (TONO).

Recorded at Punkt Studio, Kristiansand, by Jan Bang.
Recorded at Ampertone, Oslo, by Johnny Skalleberg and Thomas Pettersen.
Tim Elsenburg recorded at home in Aylesbury.
Nona Hendryx recorded at Orange Sound Studio, New York, by James Dellatacoma.
Gianluca Petrella recorded in Torino, Italy.
Adam Rudolph recorded in New York.
Recorded with support from Norsk Jazzforum and Nopa.

Thanks to Nona Hendryx, Nina Birkeland, Anders Engen, Audun Erlien, Erik Honoré, Gianluca Petrella, Bjarne Stensli, Emanuel Birkeland-Bang, Arve Henriksen, Tim Elsenburg, Adam Rudolph, Sten Nilsen, Ruben Olsen Lærk, Mari Kvien Brunvoll & Building Instrument.

license

about

Eivind Aarset & Jan Bang Norway

contact / help

Contact Eivind Aarset & Jan Bang

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Last Two Inches of Sky, you may also like:

Phantasmagoria, or A Different Kind of Journey
by The Eivind Aarset 4-tet

supported by 64 fans who also own “Last Two Inches of Sky”

Easily one of the best albums of 2021. Eivind's music is a perfect blend of jazz, post-rock, ambient, and electronic music like nothing else out there and it should be alot more recognized than it is. It's up there with Sonic Codex as his best so far. woundedhollow
go to album
Walk Through Lightly
by Dark Star Safari

supported by 47 fans who also own “Last Two Inches of Sky”

The eponymous debut by DSS is a work of considerable beauty, setting a defining benchmark in its foundation & upon which this sophomore builds exponentially, demanding the full attention of the listener & providing yet further joy & amazement at the supergroup's creative genius & talent. The single 'Life Standing Still' is delightful, but in my view it's 'Invocation' that really grabs & does indeed live up to the meaning of its title. A truly wonderful, mesmeric, interesting & escapist work. DoubleRR
go to album
The Bow Maker
by Dai Fujikura & Jan Bang

supported by 39 fans who also own “Last Two Inches of Sky”

More of a personal or intimate listening experience to me than something I could review or analyze, but this album feels like 'home' or a memory thereof. Easily one of my favorite albums for that reason. Gerrit
go to album
Bruma
by nomorewillroam

The songs on “Bruma” feel impossibly still—rising mists of piano and electronics that hover like ghosts. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 21, 2023
go to album
Gabbeh
by Unchained

A luxurious suite of daydreaming introspection full of soothing instrumental guitar from always-great label A Colourful Storm. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 29, 2024
go to album
brutalovechamp
by Brandon Seabrook's Epic Proportions (Pyroclastic Records)

The experimental guitarist's most laser-focused, melodic, and compact effort yet. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 31, 2023
go to album
Seeing Through Sound (Pentimento Volume Two)
by Jon Hassell

supported by 34 fans who also own “Last Two Inches of Sky”

A genius of modern music and a true innovator. He was always deserving of more attention than he got. New and beautiful worlds were unlocked by this dream catcher. John Fenton
go to album