Nice Things Records

26/07/2025

Some kind words by Tor Hammerø in Norwegian on "True" by Phil Minton and Ståle Liavik Solberg. Be sure to check it out - either on streaming services or on CD!

"Det vi blir servert er absurd, spennende, humoristisk, unikt og høyst personlig. De to lytter til hverandre slik at ideene som til enhver tid blir servert fra den ene blir tatt videre av den andre og hvor det hele ender aner verken vi eller de to involverte. Det er jo akkurat det som gjør impro på dette nivået så spennende."

Den engelske improveteranen Phil Minton og den innlandske og kompromissløse Ståle Liavik Solberg har satt hverandre stevne. Det likner ikke på noe annet du har hørt eller opplevd. Den 84 år unge stemmekunstneren Phil Minton, opprinnelig fra den sør-engelske badebyen Torquay, og den 46 år gaml

17/06/2025

Velkommen til Nice Things Records labelkveld #13 på 23. juni!

Det er viktigere enn noensinne å samles for å ha det hyggelig sammen. I den anledning har vi invitert et knippe av våre favorittmusikere i Oslo og omegn for å spille for oss denne sommerkvelden på Forslaget.

INGA STENØIEN - gitar

KRISTIAN ENKERUD LIEN - gitar

ELLIE MÄKELÄ - bratsj .songwriter

JOHANNES ELNAN - kontrabass .elnan

MARKUS KRISTIANSEN - trommer

+++ FLERE TBA

Det blir to konserter/sett/omganger med musikk fra og med kl 19:00. Hvem spiller med hvem lurer du? Det finner vi ut når det nærmer seg! Fint og friskt blir det uansett. Man kan få seg noe godt å drikke og det er som vanlig plater og bøker til salgs.

SEES PÅ KONSERT

Dørene åpner 18:30

Konsertstart 19:00

100,- i døra (Vipps/cash)

Arrangementet er støttet av

28/05/2025

Nice words on Isach Skeidsvoll and Akira Sakata's Hidden River over at Salt Peanuts

"The hard-hitting, 33-minute only of Hidden River features three free improvised pieces, capturing the duo’s spontaneous and intense energy, fully possessed by the moment."

salt peanuts* er et ledende skandinavisk nettidsskrift for improvisert og annen sterk musikk

23/05/2025

Isach Skeidsvoll, Akira Sakata - Hidden River is OUT TODAY! The album will be avaliavle on CD very soon, but in the meantime listen on you preferred streaming service.

Norwegian pianist Isach Skeidsvoll teamed up with Japanese saxophone player Akira Sakata to record the music on “Hidden River “during the spring of 2023. The results are the three tracks on this hard hitting album, presenting the improvising duo’s spontaneous energy and in-the-moment-ness as well as a traditional Japanese folk song in their own arrangement.

Isach Skeidsvoll has made his mark as as expressive musician in several bands the last few years. Some of these are General Post Office and his own septet Isach Skeidsvoll - Dance to Summon. Akira Sakata is a renowned musician in the world of free jazz and expressive music. His first group Saibo-bunretsu was started in 1969. He has been active ever since, and has been heard in several bands and constellations like Yamash*ta Yosuke Trio, Arashi and Sakata Trio.

“Hidden River” is a piece of pure musical joy, and we are proud to release this album!

22/05/2025

Nice review of TRUE over at Freejazzblog!

"It’s all technically amazing, but that relatively minor feature is overshadowed by the exploration of life’s vocal extremes of madness, a madhouse production of Lear or Godot (It’s a mere 38 minutes, but it is so compressed that it’s effect is comparable)"

Read the review of The Word Itself Interrogated: Two duos on The Free Jazz Collective

19/05/2025

Great news! NTR020 - Isach Skeidsvoll, Akira Sakata - Hidden River drops on Friday May 23rd!

The powerful duo of Isach Skeidsvoll (piano) and Akira Sakata (saxophone, vocals) release their album “Hidden River” on Nice Things Records May 23rd!

Norwegian pianist Isach Skeidsvoll teamed up with Japanese saxophone player Akira Sakata to record the music on “Hidden River “during the spring of 2023. The results are the three tracks on this hard hitting album, presenting the improvising duo’s spontaneous energy and in-the-moment-ness as well as a traditional Japanese folk song in their own arrangement.

Isach Skeidsvoll has made his mark as as expressive musician in several bands the last few years. Some of these are General Post Office and his own septet Isach Skeidsvoll - Dance to Summon. Akira Sakata is a renowned musician in the world of free jazz and expressive music. His first group Saibo-bunretsu was started in 1969. He has been active ever since, and has been heard in several bands and constellations like Yamash*ta Yosuke Trio, Arashi and Sakata Trio.

“Hidden River” is a piece of pure musical joy, and we are proud to release this album!

11/04/2025

"TRUE" by Phil Minton & Ståle Liavik Solberg is out now on Nice Things Records! Available on CD, Bandcamp and streaming platforms.
minton



After having worked together on and off for about ten years British legend Phil Minton and Norwegian stalwart Ståle Liavik Solberg finally went on a duo tour together in November 2023. The music you are now hearing is recorded at Oslo’s long running concert series for improvised music, Blow Out. It shows both musicians on top form where they go from background to foreground, from dense to open, and from melodic to abstract playfulness.

Saxophonist John Butcher says this about the music:
Ståle Liavik Solberg plays a uniquely constructed drum kit. Its small scale and carefully chosen ingredients provide a wide sonic range and flexibility which lead naturally to the intimate expression ideal in duo settings. I speak from experience, having valued playing with Ståle for more than 10 years. Another long term duo partner of his, and fellow expert in nuance, timing and attention to detail, was the late guitarist John Russell. On TRUE he is joined by the one and only Phil Minton. Spaciousness and intensity somehow join together in a music full of mysterious shapes and unforced interactions. A beautiful, and occasionally alarming, example of the art of the duo.

Recorded live at Blow Out, Kafe Hærverk on November 21st, 2023 by
Cover design and photo by

09/04/2025

Great times at for our label night number 12!

Two lovely sets by

and &

Thank you to everyone attending!

Supported by

31/03/2025

Endelig klart for Nice Things Records labelkveld #12!

Boy o boy dette blir one for the books! Vi får høre to konserter med meget Nice Things-aktuelle musikere på denne kvelden.

GIGAMY er den friskeste trioen vi har hørt på mange år. Uventede fraser fra trommer, cello og gitar blandes med alt fra skrikende måker til skrikende synther. Asymmetriske rytmer og fraser drar trioen mellom å spille med og mot omgivelsene. Resultatet blir et uttrykk fullt av sprikende impulser, klanger og referanser.

- cello
Martin Haukedal - gitar
- trummor

Etter det får vi høre en flunkende ny duo!

Bergensfjes og pianodesperado sammen med Osloborger og den frieste trommeslager er en sammensetning det er lett å bli opprømt av! Begge to er aktuelle på Nice Things med respektive duoer og plater denne våren, men mer om det senere.

Konsertstart 20:00
CC: 100,-

Støttet av

31/03/2025

Good news!

Mesmerizing new album “TRUE” by legendary British vocalist Phil Minton & Norwegian drummer Ståle Liavik Solberg comes out April 11 on

minton

We were in a constant flux of emotions when listening to this live recording for the first time. Minton’s vast array of dramatic, humorous and deeply human vocal techniques paired with Liavik’s subtle, creative and groovy drumming is a delightful listening experience we wish upon everyone. That’s why we are releasing this record. DO NOT MISS IT.

Out on streaming platforms and CD on April 11.

Mixed and mastered by
Cover art by

04/03/2025

Henriette Eilertsen & OJKOS is Nominated for Spellemann for Om Tålmodighet!! Big congrats!!

25/02/2025

Big thank you to everyone that came out to our 11th label night at last Thursday!

Two lovely sets by
SOLO
and


Martin Mellem

See you all next time at our 12th label night on April 7 at

Nice things!