Norwegian instrumental art/prog/post-rock quintet The Samuel Jackson Five return with their first full length album in nearly a decade, “A Passage to Elsewhere”, it’s their most expansive and exploratory work to date, and the first release in collaboration with Norwegian label Karisma Records.
While associated with the more cinematic and textural post-rock scene, The Samuel Jackson Five have since their 2004 debut “Same Same But Different” always operated on the outside of the genre’s gravitational pull. Continuing their open-minded musical journey, the band fully embraces their instrumental roots this time. Moving away from the vocal experiments as heard on “The Samuel Jackson Five” (2012) and “Ghost Karaoke” (2017), they’ve now returned to a purely instrumental format with renewed focus and ambitions.
The first taste from the album is the song Mid-Rite Crisis.
Please check out the song here:
The band has this to say about the single:
Mid-Rite Crisis is the first single from our upcoming album “A Passage to Elsewhere” – our most ambitious record to date.
Choosing the first release after such a long time is never easy, but we landed on this track as it captures the range of what’s in store on the album.
It began on a tiny keyboard during warm summer nights in coastal Spain, later completed in the dead of winter in Norway. Along the way, it evolved into a twangy cinematic piece, like a detective film theme refracted through odd time signatures cut open by sax and violins.
A tale of contrasts, sun and snow, simplicity and complexity. Imagine a dusty mirror ball tumbling down uneven stairs, landing in an artsy basement venue mid–post-punk party, soundtracking a crowd of half-dazed office workers trying to summon the will to reply to emails.
Featuring guest contributions from an eclectic cast of musicians spanning prog rock, Balkan metal, experimental electroacoustic music and marching bands including Ola Mile Bruland (Actionfredag, Jordsjø), Dag Stiberg (Trollfest), Åsa Ree (MEER) and Jenny Berger Myhre.
Drawing from Kosmische Musik, ‘70’s progressive rock, vintage library music, the jazz-inflected post-rock of Chicago and Toronto, imaginary folk, and experimental electronica, the result is a rich sonic tapestry. Rather than building towards predictable crescendos, “A Passage to Elsewhere” unfolds as an adventurous ever-shifting melodic journey, inviting the listener deeper in with each turn.
Tracklist:
- A Passage to Elsewhere
- Temporary Happiness Revival
- Mid-Rite Crisis
- The Department of Intermediate Affairs
- Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast
- 1420 Svartskog
- I. C. U.
- Bright Galaxies, Dark Matters
Staying true to the DIY ethos of earlier albums, the album was produced and recorded by the group, led by multi-instrumentalist Thomas Meidell and drummer Sven Andrén, the latter handling mixing at Klokkereint, his studio right outside Gjøvik.
Featuring a star team of musicians from the Norwegian prog, metal and experimental music scene: The Chronicles of Father Robin, Tusmørke, and Suburban Savages. With contributions by a cast of great guest musicians and friends, some recurring as saxophonist Dag Stiberg (Trollfest, Now We’ve Got Members) and violinist Magnus Nielsen (Magnus Moriarty™), and other new faces like Ola Mile Bruland (Actionfredag, Jordsjø), Åsa Ree (Meer) and experimental musician Jenny Berger Myhre.
A Passage to Elsewhere will be out on Karisma Records October 30, 2026. And be available on Digital format, CD and vinyl. It can be pre-ordered here:
