The return of Norwegian producer, musician, graphic / fashion designer and erstwhile goalkeeper Espen Horne is something quite momentous for Wah Wah 45s. The label’s debut release, the now seminal Magnetica, was produced by the man himself, and in the best part of 25 years that followed he never lost his connection with the label and remained very much part of the Wah Wah family.
Now, almost a quarter of a century later, Espen returns with his first solo material under his own name since that club classic from 1999. Having produced music under the pseudonym of Bobby Hughes (his goalkeeping moniker when playing for Wigan!) and alongside soulful reggae vocalist Caitlin Simpson as Kinny and Horne for Tru Thoughts, Espen is back with another vocalist of a similar ilk, and one who is well known to fans of Wah Wah 45s.
Faye Houston was one of two great front women for the label’s much loved, and much missed, dub outfit Resonators. Here she returns to the fold with Espen on the deeply spiritual soul-jazz beauty Bakeren. It’s the first taste of Espen’s debut LP for the imprint, The Anatomy of Serene Eloquence, due out this summer.
The opening spoken words set the scene:
“For han bor helt alene på en bitteliten øy” which translates to ”Because he lives all alone on his tiny island” and sums up perfectly how Espen lives his life in the beautiful, lush Western Norwegian coastal town of Bergen, surrounding himself with nature and focusing on it as one of the main inspirations for his new music.
This was never more the case than during the pandemic, when Espen began work on his new album. Grateful for the natural wonders that surrounded him, but keen to reach out to fellow humans to collaborate with, he started sharing musical ideas on-line with Faye, organist Rory More and bass player & vibes master Alexander von Mehren. Adding Eirik Blästernes on keys and Ivar Thormodsceter on drums were the finishing touches that created a very special and very moving piece of music that sets the scene for the album. The love and respect that the musicians share for each other, and their surroundings, is explicit in this song. A song which, rather wonderfully, draws its inspiration from an early 1970s Norwegian children’s record, naturally.
Radio Play & Reactions
Played by Gilles Peterson (BBC 6 Music, UK), Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM, UK); Aly Gillani (Bandcamp Weekly); Kev Beadle (Totally Wired Radio, UK); Michael Rütten (Soul Searching, Radio X, Germany);Robert Luis (Tru Thoughts / Unfold Radio, UK); Bob Hill (Illicit Grooves, Blue In Green Radio, UK); Jazzcat (Ness Radio, Italy); Mark GV Taylor (Reference Point Radio Show, Totally Wired Radio, UK); Fresh Finds Jazz Spotify Playlist; Sven Thomschke (Radio Z 95.8, Germany)
“Brilliant track.. Sounds a bit Jimi Tenor!” Gilles Peterson (BBC 6 Music, UK)
“It’s stunning brother!” Ashley Beedle (North Street West / Ballistic Brothers, UK)
“Just love this… sounds exactly (like) what is on the label.” Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM, UK)
“So good to hear some new music from Espen. Definitely getting a play on my show.” Kev Beadle (Totally Wired Radio, UK)
“Lovely tune from Espen! One of his finest to date for me.” Quinton Scott (Strut Records, UK)
“A triumphant return for the mighty Espen Horne.” Baz Hickey (45 Live)
“A true mellow moment to savor.” Steve Johns (Solar Radio, UK)
“Lovely! Will certainly get some spins from me.” Jason Palma (Footprints, Toronto, Canada)
“A pleasure for my ears.” Cesare Cera (Bologna Uno Radio, Italy)
“The Balearic sound of WahWah? I’M ALL IN.” Steve KIW (1BTN, USA)
“Love it!” Veronique Prebolin (Radio Krim, France)
“Lovely!” Junior (Record Breakin’, USA)
“Fullness and beauty. An uplifting and gentle track that owes it all to wonderful voice of Faye Houston in vibrato heaven and the beautiful Espen Horne arrangement. Genius….and now just playing my copy of Bobby Hughes Experience’s Fusa Riot also from 1999, Another gem.” John Warr (Afrobase, UK)
“Wonderful new music from Espen Horne!” DJ Jazzcat (Ness Radio, Italy)
“A classic already!” Chris Ex (Black Radio Berlin, Germany)
“Lovely, will play in my loose fm show for sure!” Cal Gibson (Loose FM, UK)
“Beautiful!” Olivier Cavaller (De La Bonne Musique, France)
“Love this vibe!!!” Jamal Ahmad (Jazz 91.9FM, USA)
“Summer vibes!” Rogall (Electric Sideshow, Germany)
“Cool track!” DJ Angola (Space Ibiza NYC, USA)
“This is beautiful music!” Sven Thomschke (Radio Z 95.8FM, Germany)
“Such a cool groove.” Ash Selector (Solar Radio, UK)
“Beautiful, fantastic tune. Love it and will spin it with pleasure. I’m looking forward to hear new Espen Horne LP.” Marcin Harper (Czwórka Polskie Radio, Poland)
“This is such a cool release. A really enjoyable listen.” DJ Osric (Various, Australia)
“Great to have EH back with a lovely track.” Simon Harrison (Basic Soul, UK)
“Absolutely love!” Eric Tchaikovsky (Night Light Radio Show, Ukraine)
“LOVE IT.” Allan Skov (Friendly PR, Denmark)
“This is truly wonderful.” Bob Hill (Totally Wired Radio, UK)
“Very smooth yet still driving!!” Radio Agora (Austria)
“A nice summer groove – nice track look forward to hearing more . . .” Marky Mark Johnson (Radio Reverb, UK)
“Love the vibe and warm production! Hope there will be (much) more of this (and on vinyl).” Xander Roozen (Royal Groove, Netherlands)
“Wicked beats man..lovin this .sure to play tomorrow night on my show on Solar.” Raj Selli (Solar Radio, UK)
“Bliss. on air a must!” Olgierd (Sofa Surfing, Poland)
“Wow this is gorgeous! Slick & classy summer aperitivo on the terrace energy.”” Chris Greenwood (SOAS Radio, UK)
“Alluring, transporting and much needed.” DJ Mr Lob (Various, Australia)
“Gorgeous! An enticing synergy of influences that, for me, breathes new life into the funky jazz of the 1970s.” Jay Paul (WRUV, USA)
“Lovely!” Jon Freer (Freer Sounds, UK)
“Back in the days good tunes.” Amar Kabouche (Fauve Radio, Hong Kong)
“Nice one.” Robert Lochmann (Radio X, Germany)
“Beautiful!!” Enrique Domenech (Freeform Radio, Spain)
“Soulful and fine track.” Ivan Mera (Higher Club, USA)
“Perfect.” Radio Tomek (NuSpirit Club, Slovakia)
“Oh now this is a few steps above the normal promo. Love the beauty of this track.” Paul Knight (Reform Radio, UK)
“Big fan of the Bobby Hughes release, great to hear some new music!” Peter McLennan (Base FM, New Zealand)
“Nice VIBES…..Radio Ready!!” Matthew Langfear (Various, UK)
“Good one!!!” Markus Milz (Radio Corax, Germany)
“CLASSY.” Mr Shiver (Various, UK)
“Lush and tropical with some superb musical flourishes and a very catchy vocal hook, this was made for summer. I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the album.” Drummie Dave (Various, UK)
“It’s Eurovision week when we’ll be cheering on Norway and reminising about Bobbysocks win for Norway in 1985 with ‘Let It Swing’ (Mel Giedroyc’s favourite Eurovision song ever!) or in the house of Hectic, i’ts the return of Norway’s Espen Horne (who’s been mates with Wah Wah 45’s Dom Servini for over 20 years) with a70s inspired ‘Bakeren’ featuring Faye Houston; it’s got flute for the flute gang and dreamy 60s beat pop that’ll chill your Balearics.” Gerry Hectic (You And The Music, UK)
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