DKV was one of the most prolific and versatile trios between 1996 and 2002, when they took an album break. In 2012, they released their magnum opus: “Past Present” on Not Two. DKV is one of the tightest free-improvisation units you can imagine due to the use of written material on which they improvise extensively. It’s especially Hamid Drake’s rhythmic pulse – ranging from funky elegant grooves to free wildfire – that provides the fundamentals of this group.

It’s almost a shock when “This Building is on Fire”, the first track, abruptly ends and Gustafsson, Pupillo and Nilssen-Love step into the arena, as if they were burying DKV under their wall of noise. If you listen closely however, you realize that both trios complement each other excellently. Nilssen-Love shows his wild and expressive side but Drake is a much too experienced and great a drummer to drown in this torrent. He sticks to his style, and the result is a highly energetic combination that also grooves like hell.

Vandermark and Gustafsson are a similar combination. On the second track, “All In”, Gustafsson structures the piece delivering brutal chords – repetitive, off-the-wall, manic – a rhythmic texture which Vandermark uses this to soar like an eagle. They dance with each other, they take out speed (when they do this it is simply great), they wrestle with each other – as well as Pupillo and Kessler. One of the album’s magical moments is their bass duet on “All Out”.

The reviews on Paal Nilssen-Love’s albums with Lasse Marhaug were a lot about noise, particularly the beauty of it. This album comes very close to that. It’s available on vinyl and CD, but in this case I’d recommend the latter as you get the wonderful extra DKV track and can listen to the half hour “All Out” without having to turn the LP.