Kronstad 23 : Sommermørket

Norway’s Kronstad 23 make music with a toolbox full of influences, vibes, and moods. Songs ranging from “Electric Miles” vibes to the hard-hitting grooves of Fela Kuti to the expanse of post-rock. The four-piece -which consists of Øyvind Vie Berg (keyboards), Aleksander Tøsdal Tveit(guitar), Eirik Rømcke(bass) and Hans Christian Dalgaard (drums)- make songs that feel big, urgent, and raw. It’s the sound of progressive jazz of the early 70s colliding in Berlin with the German electronic movement, then heading to Nigeria to jam with Fela Kuti and the Africa 70 for the Na Poi sessions.

Kronstad 23 have just released Sommermørket, their newest long player and first release with El Paraiso Records. It’s seven expansive tracks that cover jazz, African Beat, Krautrock, and post-rock, taking their unique and singular take on the genres and making them their own. Fans of Elephant9, Motorpsycho, Papir, Lotus, and Fra Det Onde will find much to love here. But really, anybody that loves music that is smart, immersive, and musically intellectual will fall hard for Kronstad 23 and Sommermørket.

According to El Paraiso Records :

“Kronstad 23 was formed in Kronstad, Bergen, Norway in the Autumn of 2023. As old friends and musical collaborators, they rekindled a creative spark that had been dormant for over 10 years. Rarely rehearsed and often caught on first take, Sommermørket was recorded live on tape in the studio of Keyboardist Øyvind Vie Berg in Bergen, Norway. The record captures three sessions across one year, from spring and late summer in 2024 to winter of 2025.“

You feel a spontaneity when you drop the needle on Sommermørket. A sense of musical vitality and exploration, as if there’s an invisible guide which these musicians are following. Intuitive musical twists and turns which get more impressive with each passing minute. “Dølgsmål” opens the album in subtle riffs and changes, quietly bringing us into Kronstad 23’s world. A killer groove opens halfway through and the whole vibe of the song turns cinematic; ominous synth tones bring a kind of sinister feel overall. In contrast, “Cæsar” stays understated with a tribal rhythm and a slow build throughout. There’s touches of Mogwai and Tortoise here, an absolute mood piece. “Trosten” sits in a sunnier disposition; not so much optimistic but maybe just basking in the fact we’ve lived to see another sunrise.

Elsewhere “Astralreiser” builds off an almost march-like rhythm and a slinky bass line that keeps things ominous and dark throughout its six and a half minute runtime. And the absolutely mystical sound of “Sjelefred” closes things out, bringing to mind the great Mwandishi-era Herbie Hancock. An effortless musical turn into elegance, New Age enlightenment, and an almost cosmic spiritual ascendance.

Once again the great El Paraiso Records is here to open our eyes and ears to artists worth spending time with, and Kronstad 23 is most definitely one of those artists. Sommermørket is a stunning record filled with musical twists and turns that feel both modern and vintage. It’s like finding some lost gem from decades lost.