The sonic signature of Terje Rypdal is unmistakable – the yearning, skywards-slanting sustains which introduce his new album could not be anyone else.

On Conspiracy the Norwegian electric guitarist – Terje likes to emphasise the electric- reconnects with the inspiration that fuelled such early masterpieces as Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away, Odyssey and Waves, exploring the poten- tial of his instrument with both a rock improviser’s love of raw energy and a composer’s feeling for space and sound-colour.

Conspiracy, recorded at Oslo’s Rainbow Studio is Terje’s first new ECM studio album in two decades and is cause for celebration. His other 21st century re- cordings have, to date, drawn upon live sources.

The clarity and depth of the new production, and the panoramic sweep of the music, invite the listener to explore the grain, the detail and the texture of its enveloping sounds up close. Keyboardist Stale Storl kken, who contributed to Terje’s Vossabrygg and Crime Scene albums is an ideal co-conspirator, per- petually thickening the plot with his own intuitive feeling for complementary sound-colours.

Conspiracy also marks a welcome return for Pal Thowsen, whose subtle, de- tailed drumming was last heard on ECM with Arild Andersen’s 1970s groups. Rypdal’s best band in years is completed by gifted young bass guitarist Endre Hareide Hallre.

Also scheduled for release in October are four Terje Rypdal’s recordings from the 1970s – albums which helped to establish the Norwegian guitarist as a truly original force in creative music. The albums are the eponymously titled Terje Rypdal (recorded 1971), What Comes After (recorded 1973), Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away (1974) and Descendre (1979). All four will be on the ECM label imprint, Touchstones.

Personnel: Terje Rypdal: electric guitar; Stale Storl kken: keyboards; Endre Ha- reide Hallre: bass, fretless bass; Pal Thowsen: drums and percussion.

‘Conspiracy’ was recorded at Oslo’s Rainbow Studio and produced by Manfred Eicher and Terje Rypdal.