With Hope
Prophone, 2025
9/10
The Swedish flutist and saxophonist Anders Hagberg is in the company of Johannes Lundberg, Joona Toivanen and Helge Andreas Norbakken for these 11 tracks of reimagined folk melodies and improvisation.
The chilling keys and intimate flute of “Elasticity Of Trees” starts the listen with much attention to mood, and “Elegy” follows with the warm keys and poetic wind interacting with tremendous beauty and wonder.
In the middle, “Circle No. 2” benefits from Lundberg’s dense bass lines amid much mystery, while the title track is a playful album highlight that blends the quick keys, frisky bass and Norbakken’s lively percussion.
Further on, “Woods In Blue” emits gentle melodies via the meticulous piano from Toivanen and the cozy rhythm section, and “O Magnum Mysterium” exits with a moody backdrop, where Hagberg’s vision is one of introspection and elegance that’s stirring.
This is Hagberg’s 2nd solo album, and it balances hope and sadness alongside the precise textures and several different flutes that serves as a very articulate response to the turmoil in the world.
Travels well with: Andorra- III; Luca Sestak- Lighter Notes