“The Birds Sing a Pretty Song” out now!
We are thrilled to announce that NTR014 “The Birds Sing a Pretty Song” by Håvard N. Funderud is out now on Nice Things Records!
The Birds Sing a Pretty Song is Funderuds first project in his own name. In addition to himself on the guitar the band consists of Petter Abjørnsen (bass), Ben Rodney (trumpet), Sigrid Aftret (saxophone), Ingvald Vassbø (drums) and Tore Ljøkelsøy (drums). The somewhat untraditional sextet presents an album that explores Funderud’s compositions, taking the listener through free jazz, soundscapes and delightfully weird melodies. Everything is wrapped up in mystical song titles, leaving it up to the listener to make sense of them.
The artwork is made by Kristoffer Møllegaard and designed by Lasse Marhaug.
“Live in Europe” out now!
We are thrilled to announce that NTR015 “Live in Europe” is out now on Nice Things Records!
This extravagant double CD album features two improvised 45 minute sets from the creative minds of alto saxophone player Amalie Dahl, double bassist Henrik Sandstad Dalen and drummer Jomar Jeppsson Søvik.
Recorded live in Prague and Brussels following the release of their debut album “Fairytales for daydreamers” in 2023, these recordings showcase the resolute individual voices of this unique trio tethered to one another in sympathetic interplay.
For anyone in Bergen, Copenhagen or Århus, check out their release shows this spring!
Photo by Laurent Orseau
“Birth of Pop” out now!
EP “Birth of Pop” is out now!
Birth of Pop's EP will be out December 8th!
The improvising trio of Tore Ljøkelsøy, Ben Rodney and Håvard Nordberg Funderud investigates the odd format of drums, fiddle, trumpet and guitar. The trio's non-hierarchical improvisation has lead to long pieces of music, heavily processed by Ben Rodney.
“And Then Summer Came” out now!
"And Then Summer Came" by Bye Lila is out now!
Nice Things Records is happy to present this stunningly beautiful album from the duo Bye Lila, consisting of vocalist Lisbeth-Anita Grimsø Olsen and pianist Liv Andrea Hauge.
Characterized by close and personal lyrics, melodious compositions and lucid improvisation, this album explicitly showcases the talents of two heavy hitting performers in Norwegian jazz who share a wellspring of undeniably compelling ideas.
The album also includes a haunting version of "The Quiet Breath of Winter" featuring Arktisk Filharmoni arranged by Aleksander Waaktaar.
Available on streaming platforms now. Coming soon on CD!
“First as Farce” is out now!
We are overjoyed to present this exuberant album, lovingly performed and produced by the omnipotent guitar player Hein Westgaard, alongside double bass wizard Petter Asbjørnsen and drummer extraordinaire Simon Forchhammer.
Get your CD copy now directly from Hein at Bandcamp or wherever you purchase music.
Writing for JazzPort.cz, Jan Hocek described Hein Westgaard Trio as "one of the most distinctive young Nordic bands [...] The music has a very loose, almost intuitive feel to it, with a tremendous tension arising between the surging guitar and the elastic, seemingly disjointed rhythms."Mixed by Anton Toorell
Mastered by Christian Obermayer
Cover photo by Aurelijus Užameckis
Layout and design by Daniela Foe
Liner notes by Allen Lowe
“Swineherd Agitator” is out now!
The one and only single by Hein Westgaard Trio before their debut album "First as Farce" comes out on Nice Things Records September 1.
The album will be available on CD and streaming platforms.
Writing for JazzPort.cz, Jan Hocek described Hein Westgaard Trio as "one of the most distinctive young Nordic bands [...] The music has a very loose, almost intuitive feel to it, with a tremendous tension arising between the surging guitar and the elastic, seemingly disjointed rhythms."
Hein Westgaard, guitar
Petter Asbjørnsen, double bass
Simon Forchhammer, drums
Photo by Aurelijus Užameckis
“Mann med blå jakke” is out June 2!
New release!
NTR010 "Mann med blå jakke" by electric eclectic duo Torstein & Sigurd is out now!
This album features a visceral and intuitive set performed before an enthusiastic live audience at our label night at Cappelens Forslag in Oslo last year. A special bonus track featuring Jomar Jeppsson Søvik was also included for your listening pleasure.
Performed and produced by Torstein Slåen and Sigurd Ytre-Arne.
Cover photo by Gabriel Skålevik.
Mann med blå jakke is Harald Jordal Johannessen.
“A Lot of Music About Everything” is out now!
Good news!
Master Oogway returns on Nice Things Records with their brand new album A Lot of Music About Everything.
During the last few years Master Oogway has worked extensively with their music in a live format. The quartet has invited different guest musicians, composed and improvised new music in several different aesthetics and directions. This way Master Oogway has evolved from being a jazz/rock band to an ever changing and creative phenomenon. The live format is where Master Oogway’s music comes most alive, and this is the spirit they brought into Athletic Sound studio during the recording sessions of A Lot of Music About Everything. The quartet wanted to preserve their live energy, while utilizing the tools provided in a studio environment. With the expertise of sound engineer Dag Erik Johansen, A Lot of Music About Everything has become Master Oogway’s most gnarly, loudest and dirtiest album so far!
This release also features some awe-inspiring cover art by Lasse Marhaug.
“Fairytales for daydreamers” is out March 3rd!
We are happy to present NTR008 "Fairytales for daydreamers" by Amalie Dahl, Henrik Sandstad Dalen and Jomar Jeppsson Søvik. Out now on all streaming platforms!
On this live recording from their first performance together, the listener gets to experience the trio’s immediate chemistry through a lively and adventurous hour-long improvised set. They move confidently through polite introductions, interrogations, deep conversations and heated arguments before at last they reach tender reconciliation, as if they were old friends playing together.
They are touring Europe next week. Catch one of their shows in Prague, Cologne or Brussels!
Cover photo by Ferdinand Schwarz
“In Orbit” is out February 17!
A beautiful duo effort by Hein Westgaard and Alex Ventling.
Recorded over two days in the ever so flat Denmark, the freely improvised duo album reflects a lyricism and tranquility perhaps owing a shared longing to the mountains, with Westgaard being Norwegian, and Ventling carrying a sense of home in both Switzerland and New Zealand. The sounds of the guitar and prepared grand-piano seamlessly blend as to create a single sound source, or rather multiple sources of uncertain origin. Natural sceneries, expansive atmospheres and investigations into the smallest details create the listening pallet. From minimalistic soundscapes to dynamic sonic narratives, ‘In Orbit’ encapsulates the spur-of-the-moment adventurousness that open ended improvisation calls for.
Cover art by Fee Blumenthaler
“Ballads Inbetween Fast Songs” is out now!
Our second release of the year, "Ballads Inbetween Fast Songs" by Aksel Røed Trio, is out now!
In recent years Røed has been making waves on Norway's west coast as a sideman in projects ranging from straightahead jazz to heavy rock.
On this record Røed's playful saxophone sounds go head to head with the tumultuous bass lines of Magne Thormodsæther and the propulsive ride cymbals of Tore Ljøkelsøy. All culminating in a listening experience reminiscent of highlights in jazz history, while constantly forging ahead.
Buy nice things!
Our New Year's resolution is to sell more records. Please purchase them!
Contact us at nicethingsrecords@gmail.com or follow the links below!
NTR002 "Theme songs for society"
NTR001 "Martin h. Mellem's One and Two"
“FULL COMMUNITY” is out January 13!
2023 is off to a good start!
In support of FULL COMMUNITY's appearance at the lovely All Ears Festival January 14, we are happy to announce our first release of the year.
The substantial live album ‘FULL COMMUNITY’ presents six excerpts from concert recordings produced in 2022 by the newly formed group of the same name.
Spearheaded by guitarist and composer Håvard Nordberg Funderud, this large ensemble (ranging from 7 to 9 different musicians on stage each concert) practices collective improvisation based on six predetermined musical ideas. A study in individualism vs. collectivism - the listener experiences how each musician strives to shape the group’s musical output. Sometimes working to support each other while nurturing stability, other times calling out for a radical change in direction and encouraging chaos.
‘FULL COMMUNITY’ gives testimony to the same ideas and motivations that Nice Things Records was founded on - the importance of expressing your creative spirit and participating in your community.
Available on streaming platforms and a severely limited edition tape cassette January 13.
“Sámi noise” by Viktor Bomstad out December 2!
A riveting solo venture by one of the most exciting Norwegian guitar players on the scene today.
Noise, joik, sampling and fuzz sounds are welded masterfully together on this album to paint images of suppressed native culture, anger and at last rejuvenating freedom.
Beautiful artwork by Ida Jacklin.
“Rev med gule øyne” is out October 7!
An absolutely stirring debut album by the enthralling duo Torstein & Sigurd.
Torstein Slåen: guitar, electronics
Sigurd Ytre-Arne: SP-202, Roland SH-09, MFB 522, electronics
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Torstein & Sigurd
© Nice Things Records 2022
“Theme songs for society” is out September 2!
With their debut album "Theme songs for society" double bass player Henrik Sandstad Dalen and Passe Planta have composed a variety of colorful themes inspired by Mother Nature, free jazz and 90's sitcom soundtracks.
Each theme is intended to underscore a certain facet of human society and how the individual copes with partaking in it. Still there is ample room for the listener to freely associate and find whatever meaning they can in the work - much like one aspires to find meaning and purpose in society itself.
Henrik Sandstad Dalen, double bass, compositions
Ingrid Skåland Lia, saxophones
Sigrid Aftret, saxophones
Lyder Øvreås Røed, trumpet & flugelhorn
Torstein Slåen, guitar
Recorded by Dag Erik Johansen at Athletic Sound July 2020.
Mixed by Andréa Louise Horstad.
Mastered by Espen Høydalsvik.
Artwork by Henrik Koppen.
“Gå i skogen” is out August 19!
"Gå i skogen" (“Walk in the woods”) is the enthralling first single from ambient duo Torstein & Sigurd. Their debut album “Rev med gule øyne” is out October 7.
Torstein Slåen, guitar and electronics
Sigurd Ytre-Arne, electronics, artwork and video
“Land of the trees, pt. 2” is out now!
"Land of the trees, pt. 2" is the reassuring first single from Norwegian quintet Passe Planta's upcoming debut album "Theme songs for society".
Double bass player Henrik Sandstad Dalen has composed a variety of colorful themes inspired by Mother Nature, free jazz and 90's sitcom soundtracks. The album will be available on tape cassette and digital streaming platforms September 2 this fall.
Ingrid Skåland Lia, soprano sax
Sigrid Aftret, tenor sax
Lyder Øvreås Røed, trp & flugelhorn
Torstein Slåen, gtr
and Henrik Sandstad Dalen, double bass and compositions.
Recorded by Dag Erik Johansen in Athletic Sound.
Mixed by Andréa Louise Horstad.
Master by Espen Høydalsvik.
Artwork by Henrik Koppen.
“Out of kindness experience” out now!
Rowland’s EVIL JAZZ TRIO presents their enthusiastic new single “Out of kindness experience”!
Available now on Bandcamp and streaming platforms.
Martin h. Mellem’s One and Two is out now!
Check it out on your preferred streaming service by following the link below.
https://linktr.ee/nicethingsrecords
One and Two is the cheerful debut album of innovative Norwegian drummer and composer Martin h. Mellem. His explosive approach has contributed to the rise of many high energy bands such as Master Oogway and Bear Brother, as well as the low-key Ototoi. He is a familiar sight on the Scandinavian jazz and improvised music scene.
This album, a live recording from October 2021, comprises the two tracks “One and” and “Two”. A stellar group performance by Mellem, Håvard Nordberg Funderud (guitar), Aksel Rønning (sax, flute), Karl Erik Horndalsveen (double bass) and Hans P. Kjorstad (violin) makes this debut a remarkable listening experience.