There are very few bands operating in the space currently occupied by. The Danish trio have built a reputation across Europe for turning acoustic instruments into something that feels closer to a warehouse rave than a traditional jazz performance.
Comprised of Oliver Lauridsen on tenor sax, Thorbjørn Øllgaard on baritone and bass sax, alongside drummer Albert Holberg, the band have spent the last few years developing one of Scandinavia’s most intense and unconventional live shows. Since emerging in 2018, they have taken their relentless mix of techno structures, punk energy and 90s dance culture references to major festivals and showcase events including, and, alongside performances at SummerStage in Central Park, New York.
Their latest record, This Is Why We Lost, feels like an important step forward creatively. While earlier releases often leaned into chaos, humour and self irony, the new album strips some of that away in favour of something more emotionally open and politically reflective.
The ambition behind the record was to create music capable of existing inside a trance or club setting while still carrying melody, vulnerability and narrative depth. It is a balancing act that the trio seem to pull off naturally. The record moves between hypnotic repetition, raw percussion and huge saxophone driven crescendos without ever losing its emotional core.
Recent singles including Like A Word I Never Knew, the gabber inspired Vik’s Rawcore featuring acclaimed vibraphonist Viktoria Søndergaard, and the acoustic techno pulse of Let’s Go! showcase a band continuing to challenge expectations around instrumental music.
The album also carries a political undercurrent, with the band reflecting on the recent rise of right wing politics across the world. Rather than simply criticising from a distance, the trio have spoken openly about the need for self reflection within progressive movements themselves, giving the album an introspective edge beneath its physical intensity.
Hypnotic, immersive and constantly shifting, This Is Why We Lost feels less like a collection of songs and more like a journey through underground club culture, contemporary jazz experimentation and raw live energy.
The release is supported by an extensive international tour throughout 2026, including UK appearances at Rough Trade East, Glasgow’s Hug and Pint and.
The Urbanista team will also be catching up with the band following their Derby appearance, so watch this space for a full interview and behind the scenes insight into one of Europe’s most exciting live acts.
