Norway's near-unclassifiable improv outfit Supersilent returns with yet another numerically titled foray into the epic expanses where Free-Jazz, cinematic ambience, heavy instrumental riffage and virtuoso soloing converge. After the extended live venture which was "7" in DVD format, which encompassed both the audio and visual dynamic and immensity of their combined skills displayed at the Oslo Jazz Fest 2005, its back to just the abstraction of pure recorded sound representing their art. And yes, "8" does represent.

Its in the combined individual (both traditional and avant) musical skill of all the members of this outfit that make for the great improvisational virtuosity of their work. The individual players catalog and histories looks like a who's-who of Nordic jazz and the avant-garde: Helge Sten of Deathprod on electronics and guitar, Ståle Storløkken on keyboard, Jarle Vespestad on drums and percussion and world recognized horn player and ECM label artist Arve Henriksen on trumpet, percussion and voice. Said individual skills being applied to the gamut of sounds: from monolithic slabs of often dissonant textures, to cinematic ambient passages to improvisational blasts of sonic tumult which later find rest as subtle yearning peals of horns and electronics which dissipate into near-silence and then build in new and varying configurations. Referencing in the course of their album, styles and sources as diverse as the cosmic vibe of Sun Ra, Peter Brotzmann's improv howl, the free form keyboard work of electric-period Miles Davis as well as glimpses of the tonal and melodic figures found in the works of modern composers Terry Riley and Arvo Part.

In interview Supersilent have said that their finished albums come from extended recordings sessions, sometimes producing as much as 10 hours of what they would call 'good' work, which they edit down to the 'essential' and its that latter quality/quantity that makes for the content of the album-proper. There's been speak of Rune Grammofon releasing a 10-12 CD box set of selections from that very same 'good' material unrealeased on album which have accumulated  over the years as a final closing statement to their collaborative project. Rumors have abounded that both "7" and "8" were to be their last new recordings together as an outfit. On this (further) evidence of their incomparable, totally singular sonic formula, I'm very much hoping its not the case. As the void opened by their absence in the global new jazz scene would be SILENCE indeed.