EH3 (Erland Helbo Trio): Close to Nothing

I still get goosebumps when I hear a great guitar solo or a player that connects with my ear. Add Norwegian guitarist Erland Helbo to my ever growing list. I feel like everything I’ve been falling for lately is from Norway, maybe I should consider a move at this point? On their second release Close to Nothing the trio adds some bluesy elements to their music, which I don’t remember being as prominent as on their 2020 release Improve Reality. The opener “Funk Haus� kicks things off with a great simple riff, and not only does Helbo get to rip, but bassist Frode Agedal Berg throws in a terrific bass solo. You get a good dose of funkiness on “Mr. Double Espresso�, and when they fall back into that slow groove for the guitar solo, that’s the payoff for me.

The tracks all fall into the 3-6 minute category, the songs are easy to connect with and have stayed with me which is always a good sign. The blues based swing of “Frostbite� will get you out of your seat, it’s filled with energy and the guitar work is smooth. “Dr. Break� steps into the fusion realm with complex changes and little stop start moments, and the energy level soars around the halfway point. The title track is another one that just has that certain groove, and Helbo doesn’t disappoint with his guitar cutting through. But, the one track that makes my head spin is “3rd Runway Blues�, wow; this lays it all out, furious guitar playing and such a great feel. Adding the organ to this track is the icing on the cake, it doesn’t get any better. If you love the guitar as much as me, make sure to add EH3 to your list.

Track List:
1. Funk Haus
2. Mr. Double Espresso
3. Frostbite
4. Dr. Break
5. A Moose In The Sunset
6. Hurly Burly
7. Close to Nothing
8. 3 rd Runway Blues
9. Artemis 81

Added: June 1st 2025
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 343
Language: english

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