The pensive, enigmatic compositions of Ensemble Ensemble outline an imaginary folklore: freely drawing on Norwegian and Alsatian traditional music, they equally absorb elements of oral and written, experimental and folk, electronic and analogue, vocal and instrumental cultures, ultimately forming a flow of sounds closely related to ambient music.

Eve Risser, leader of Ensemble Ensemble, is one of the most distinctive voices on the contemporary French improvisation scene. Her international quintet combines the Norwegian folk music heritage and electronic experiments of Mari Kvien Brunvoll and Kim Myhr with the improvised jazz of George Dumitriu and the inventive percussion style of Toma Gouband. Their collaboration gives rise to pensive, enigmatic compositions, infused with restrained emotions, which outline an imaginary folklore: freely drawing on Norwegian and Alsatian traditional music, they equally absorb elements of oral and written, experimental and folk, electronic and analogue, vocal and instrumental cultures, ultimately forming a flow of sounds closely related to ambient music. The album was recorded live during two consecutive concerts at the Atelier du Plateau in Paris.

French pianist Eve Risser is one of the leading figures of avant-garde jazz, touring most intensely as the leader of the Red Desert Orchestra. Her duo album with Naïny Diabaté is pending release on BMC Records, and in 2022 she appeared on the first album of Matthieu Donarier’s Bestiaire project. The same album also featured French percussionist Toma Gouband, who is obsessed with polyrhythms and drum sets made from natural materials such as stones and branches. Romanian-born George Dumitriu has achieved success as the leader of the North Sea String Quartet and a member of the Kaja Draksler Octet, among other bands, and also plays on BMC’s upcoming album Black Sea Songs. Ensemble Ensemble is completed by two Norwegian members: Mari Kvien Brunvoll has made a name for herself mainly with her unique solo performances, but has also worked with Stian Westerhus and Stein Urheim, while Kim Myhr has recorded his compositions with the Kitchen Orchestra and the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra in addition to his solo albums.