by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Gouldian Finch is the pseudonym under which we find Martin Horntveth, the drummer for Jaga Jazzist – where he is one of the principal members along with brother Lars. For this work, based on a commission entitled Polaroid from the Kongsberg Jazz festival in 2021, he assembles a band of similar dimensions to carry out his musical wishes- nine musicians to supervise as band leader.

This album reflects the breadth of Horntveth’s musical outlook, but hones in more on his love of jazz and jazz rock, and what he describes as “a love / hate relationship with fusion and funk.” Typically he comes out from behind the drums to play keyboards and other percussion instruments on the album, as well as producing and arranging.

What’s the music like?

If you like Jaga Jazzist, then this will be right up your street – assuming your street is home to all sorts of colourful musical twists and turns.

The overriding observation is that Horntveth loves to celebrate music itself, because Schizo bubbles over with positive energy, its riffs delivered with flair and excitement, dressed in multicoloured clothing.

The best examples of this are CAPS LOCK, a riot of colour that originally scuttles along a little furtively before blossoming into a flurry of activity, and Guilty Pleasure, which is an enormous amount of fun. The title track is made of similar stuff, a rush of musical endorphins that bottles up all the fizz Horntveth projected through his band.

There is an appealing playfulness running through the likes of Guilty Pleasure but there are slower moments too, such as the start of Spinning Pinwheel, a plaintive saxophone choir that proves to be a mask for the exuberant funk that follows. No Filter is closer to ballad territory, a nice freewheeling bit of music with the sun at its back.

Does it all work?

It does – with the caveat that you won’t always be in the right mood for music that does sometimes spill over into hyperactivity, the sonic equivalent of having too much caffeine!

Is it recommended?

It is. Schizo does indeed flit between musical moods, but it is a lot of fun.

For fans of… Jaga Jazzist, The Comet Is Coming, Moses Boyd, Ezra Collective

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Published post no.2,449 – Tuesday 18 February 2025