'Viewpoint' by People In Orbit

Making their debut on April Records is the Swedish quintet People In Orbit who unveil their second full-length release with 'Viewpoint'.

Creating a fascinating starting point for not just a new musical offering but also for discussions about how we live our lives in relation to the people, societies and cultures around us - 'Viewpoint' examines how our varying perspectives can either unite us as a global society or ultimately divide us irreparably.

Without intending to veer too far away from the discussion of music, the nature of People In Orbit's latest project calls to mind the parable about the group of blind men who touch an elephant for the first time: one feels the trunk and thinks it's a snake, another the leg and thinks it's a tree, another the ear and thinks it's a fan... Each man is convinced that despite each having a limited perspective on the animal that they understand the whole truth as a result.

Further to the album's theme, while each person is partially correct in their initial assessment, the notion of conflict arises when each of them insist they are completely right which is where the theme of connection versus division becomes part of the bigger narrative.

Thank you for indulging the slight detour but good art inspires thought and conversation which 'Viewpoint' inspired in abundance.  Division, unfortunately, has long been a part of our society with the last few years in particular presenting us all with an inconceivable amount of challenges that have sought to divide us politically, racially and environmentally.  People In Orbit astutely tackle the ideals head-on and deliver a compelling project as a result.

Comprised of trumpeter Adam Sass, saxophonist Edvin Ekman, pianist Niklas Bergström, double-bassist Edvin Elmersson and drummer Frank William Reis, 'Viewpoint' continues the quintet's dynamic approach to contemporary jazz that draws inspiration from a fusion of styles and a lively prog-rock aesthetic.  While an album that teams with energy - best exemplified through 'Cycle 1 - Bombastic And Majestic Introduction' and 'Cycle 2 - The Clueless Marchers' - the ensemble are still wildly adept at showcasing tremendous sensitivity in their performance and composition delivering scintillatingly sweet contributions that are just as compulsory to the album's make-up.

People In Orbit seem to relish concepts revolving around varying perspectives when it comes to their music.  Their debut release, 'Close/Away' (Prophone Records, 2023) seemed to thrive on the dichotomy of togetherness and separation, intimacy and independence.  And while it could be argued that these can be considered opposing perspectives, 'Viewpoint' now shines a different perspective on its predecessor opening up the idea that different perspectives don't need to be conflicting, or even considered opposites.

People In Orbit have released a genuinely fantastic effort and one that inspired through its fascinating concept and through its fantastic performances and composition.