Underlake

Copenhagen-based pianist and composer Rasmus Kjær Larsen returns with Underlake, a deeply personal and sonically immersive trio exploration of water’s impact on human life. Underlake is set for release on October 31st via Hobby Horse Records. Recorded just before Kjær’s departure from Switzerland in 2023, the album captures the essence of a fleeting yet fruitful artistic connection forged during his year living near Lake Geneva. Blending intricate composition with intuitive improvisation, the record explores the emotional and physical resonance of water – how it shapes us, sustains us, and seeps into every aspect of life. Most of the album is built around a unique 7-tone mode invented by Kjær himself, giving the record a distinct harmonic identity. Two pieces break from this self-imposed rule: the fully improvised adrift, and Ondine in Silhouette, a more traditional song form inspired by the mythical water nymph who lures sailors with her siren song. The opening track almost weightless draws from an imaginative practice passed down by Kjær’s former teacher, Butch Lacy – picturing oneself floating in a lake, listening for tones rising from the depths like bubbles. Kjær took this literally, composing while floating in Lake Geneva, surrounded by mountains and water. The result is a sound world described by Kjær as “dark but beautiful,” where “in several places on the album, one might get the feeling of being underwater, as if one's movements are in slow motion and the world has a different weight.” Over the past two decades, Rasmus Kjær Larsen has earned a reputation as one of Denmark’s most adventurous musical voices, with acclaimed releases spanning solo organ works, synth-based projects, and avant-jazz collaborations. Underlake marks a return to the acoustic piano – and a reaffirmation of his deep roots in improvisation, atmosphere, and exploratory composition. Performing alongside Kjær are multi-instrumentalist/producer/sound engineer Noé Franklé on drums and ECM recording artist Nicolas Masson on the saxophone. Line-up: Rasmus Kjær | Piano Nicolas Masson | Saxophone, Clarinet Noé Franklé | Drums