In 2019, guitarist Ed Pettersen was given the opportunity to explore the incredible acoustic space of the Emmanuel Vigeland Mausoleum in Oslo, Norway, a dark room covered in frescos of naked figures, with his electric lap steel guitar. As something that had mainly been a bucket list experience, the opportunity represented both a satisfying accomplishment and a deeply spiritual, haunting experience. The freedom of the mausoleum’s arching, hallowed space is paralleled in the exploratory wandering of Pettersen’s guitar, moving with confidence and curiosity through the abstract. The tracks, played on his 8-string Weissenborn guitar, keyboards and modular synth are both relaxed and intense, making equal uses of silence and clarity of sound.
Pettersen is not usually drawn to playing solo, preferring the energy of collaboration—and hadn't been planning to play again until French improvisor Christian Vasseur asked me to contribute to his weekly pandemic collaborations in November 2020. After recording for Christian, Pettersen let the tape roll, and this project documents the winding and wistful improvisations created in memory of his experience at the mausoleum.
1. The Problem With Livia
2. Get Out of Here
3. Completely Unaware
4. Facts Don't Lie
5. C'mon, C'mon, C'mon
6. Can It Really Be You
7. Gimme' a Break
8. Green, Green, Green
9. If I Had a Dollar
10. It Doesn't Matter Anymore
11. Let's Go to the Video
12. Like I Used To
13. Stop Me if You've Heard This
14. Stop, Wait, Don't
15. We Are the Sunset
Ed Pettersen - 8 string Weissenborn, keyboards and modular synth
Recorded on November 24, 2020 by Ed Pettersen in Nashville, TN
Mixed Ed Pettersen
Mastered by Bob Olhsson
All music by Ed Pettersen, High Line Riders Music (ASCAP)
