Photo: Mariam Wallentin

We’re less than a week away from the release of Their Power Reached Across Space and Time-to Defy Them Was Death-or Worse, the new duo album from Mats Gustafsson and Joachim Nordwall. Following the first single ‘HER EYES​…​WERE LIKE COLD FIRES (slut)’, the pair have shared a new track called ‘THERE ARE SOME WORLDS WHERE ALL DREAMS DIE (en glad stund)’ and you can listen to it below. Their Power Reached Across Space and Time-to Defy Them Was Death-or Worse is out on March 24th through Thrill Jockey.

Photo: Mariam Wallentin

Mats Gustafsson and Joachim Nordwall are no strangers to collaborating with each other. Superheroes at the forefront of the Swedish modern jazz, improvisation and experimental music scene, they have again joined forces and the result is Their Power Reached Across Space and Time-to Defy Them Was Death-or Worse, a new duo album set for release on March 24th through Thrill Jockey. Adventurous as always, on the upcoming record the pair continue to explore the sonic possibilities of their instruments, reeds and guitar respectively, driving each other “to unexpected places creating sonic expanse that demands repeat exploration”. Self-described as “slow music”, the upcoming Their Power Reached Across Space and Time-to Defy Them Was Death-or Worse is a two-way conversation. “It took us years of our lives to get to this point and hopefully the music will keep changing the listeners for every new time you listen to it,” Gustafsson explained, with Nordwall adding: “playing with Mats is about communication through music. We never make plans, this is how we sound together.”

In a statement, Gustafsson and Nordwall shared some thoughts:

“Time is a strange thing. Everything led to this, is the mutual feeling for Mats Gustafsson and Joachim Nordwall. Our Thrill Jockey album THEIR POWER REACHED ACROSS SPACE AND TIME-TO DEFY THEM WAS DEATH-OR WORSE is the result of a friendship and artistic respect that has been going for decades. Eight low dynamic, dark and focused tracks, all holding some odd kind of tension. It is like something is coming, a black star on the horizon. Our respective different backgrounds come together in the most natural way here and creates some kind of organic sci-fi feel to it. Gustafsson with his legendary career in the free jazz scene and Nordwall and his presence in the underground electronic music world.

“This is where acoustics and analogue synths meet. It is unique music. Unheard vibes. Perfect for special venues and good PAs.”

Ahead of the album’s release, we can already hear one the phenomenal album tracks, ‘HER EYES​…​WERE LIKE COLD FIRES (slut)’. Here it is.