Ståle Storløkken may well be best known for his hi-octane-distorted, free-rock-symphonic Hammond-organ escapades in Elephant9 or as the synth-wizard in Supersilent. He has also been Terje Rypdals “keyboard-player of choice” since 1995.

Improvisation is always a key element in Storløkkens musical univers. Sound and timbre are important building blocks in themselves or together with quirky melodic and rhythmical twists combined with great harmonic frivolity. Storløkken is always in constant search of inspiration from a vast spectre of the whole world of music (folkmusic, experimental soundart, Olivier Messiaen).

In the encounter of the Church-organ he seeks to explore both possibilities and limitations of the instrument and he is constant in search of the “hidden” treasures of sound. Different musical phrases or elements, from simple melodies to massive sound exploration, becomes part of a whole that is created in the moment. Out of this, musical landscapes appear, that can be smooth, beautiful, concrete, abstract and fierce.

Photo: Juliane Schütz