CD edit, RE-MASTERED

Just as Paul Klee famously took a line for a walk, guitarist and composer Samuel Hällkvist likes to take melodies and rhythm on inspirational journeys to create music that is as dazzling as it is compelling.

Recorded in Tokyo, Halmstad, Gothenburg, Copenhagen, New York, Paris & Malmö between March 2015 and January 2017, Hällkvist’s music embraces swirling electronica, big grooves saturated with squalling lead guitar, dreamy sojourns, febrile electro-acoustic explorations, free-form improvisation and incendiary flashes of stirring themes, unsettling noir-ish soundtracks and anthemic post-rock landscapes.

An international cast of twelve performers joins the Danish-based guitarist as Variety Of Rhythm continues the momentum begun with 2012‘s Variety of Loud and 2015‘s Variety of Live with a continuous suite that blends intense combinations of textures, tonal colour, breathtaking dynamics and organic inter- actions.

Variety Of Rhythm is an important release from a musician who is rapidly gaining a considerable reputation as a player of quality and taste. Though he’s far too modest to mention it himself, Samuel Hällkvist’s technical prowess and strong melodic instincts have placed him alongside some of the very best players around the world from a wide variety of backgrounds.

For example, Dick Lövgren of extreme metal band Meshuggah added his distinctive touch while, legen- dary American guitarist and sonic explorer, David Torn who produced Samuel’s 2016 release, Days Are Not Days was also keen to guest on the new album.