Elephant9’s ‘Psychedelic Backfire I’: Where psych, jazz and fusion party in Norway

I’ve been listening to Elephant9 for a couple years now. Their song “Sojourn” played randomly while I was listening to Spotify and I was mesmerized by the song’s melancholy and moody sound. I immediately bought their album Arrival of the New Elders and haven’t looked back.

I’ve since bought two more of their records, 2024s Mystical River and their live monster LP Catching Fire. This Norwegian 3-pc -which consists of keyboardist Ståle Storløkken, bassist Nikolai Hængsle, and drummer Torstein Lofthus- blend beautifully the worlds of jazz, psych, prog, fusion and even post-rock into a mighty jambalaya of sound. They can go from slight and subtle to mighty menacing. They capture a 70s-era sound; Deep Purple-ish keys, chugging bass, and drums that groove and drive Elephant9 into the stratosphere.

Given that their older albums have sold out for the most part and that they’re usually only available in Europe I’m only slowly working my way through buying up their records. Well this week a real barn burner showed up on my front porch, the band’s 2019 epic Psychedelic Backfire I. Guys and gals, this one is MASSIVE!

This is the band’s first live outing after five studio records, and let me tell you this thing is immense. Album opener “I Cover The Mountain Top” starts in a whisper, distant organ playing an almost melancholy melody. Bass comes in with a counter-melody. There’s a spiritual quality to it; sacred tomes coming from high some Scandinavian mountain. The Hall of the Mountain King resonates. Nearly five minutes in and the song explodes with bombastic drums and goes into an absolute psychedelic freakout. It’s 12 minutes of blistering prog rock and 70s rock organ jams.

“Habanera Rocket” lays waste to your psyche in a driving barn burner of a track. For a three-piece with no guitar this band absolutely rips. Keyboardist Ståle Storløkken is like if Jimmy Smith, Deep Purple’s Jon Lord, and Uriah Heep’s Ken Hensley all came together in one musician. His playing is technical, soulful, and aggressive. “Habanera Rocket” displays the absolute power of this musician, and with the rhythm section of Hængsle and Lofthus there’s just no stopping Elephant9. For nearly 18 minutes this band goes on a groove-heavy psychedelic swirl of blues, jazz, fusion, and prog.

All six tracks here never relent, taking the listener on a cosmic and heady journey. From the driving metal of “Actionpack1” to the fusion dissonance of “Dodovoodoo”, Elephant9 lock in and set fire to the stage. Electric Miles, Tony Williams’ Emergency, Band of Gypsies and even touches of ELP come through, but with a Norwegian twist which gives it all a mysterious vibe overall.

There is a Psychedelic Backfire II as well, and you know I’m going to be seeking that one out. I cannot recommend this live record or this band enough. Norway’s best kept secret has become this Midwesterners new favorite musical obsession.