In the unassuming surroundings of The Camp Basement, Magnus Öström (who will be forever tagged as the former Esbjörn Svensson Trio drummer) joked that it felt like ‘performing in my own basement in Stockholm’. The rest of the Swedish quartet was equally comfortable and relished the adoration of the faithful audience, who responded to the cinematic swells and extended endings that added an amplified edge to the evening.

In comparing this performance to the quartet’s only recording to date, the biggest surprise came from guitarist Andreas Hourdakis, who repeatedly brought the kinetic energy to explosive peaks with the help of expert dynamic co-coordinator Öström. Equally impressive was the contributions of Thobias Gabrielson, particularly when he moved from electric bass to synthesiser. His relationship with the drums was a lesson in Nordic-groove: minimalistic yet entirely grooving, both vast through its use of space and still energetic.

Öström paid a moving tribute to Esbjörn that was swiftly followed by one of the heaviest grooves of the evening, proving that this was both ‘post-E.S.T.’ and singular in its own right. Öström has found his own voice, and in surrounding himself with younger musicians with something still to prove, seems to be on to a winner. Some newer, unrecorded pieces – hinting towards the influence of Weather Report – were also amongst the more familiar, boding well for the future of this group which already sounds like the finished article – and comes highly recommended.

– Patrick Groenland