Jazzland Artist

The recording of Saturation began as an invitation from Jazzland founder Bugge Wesseltoft to create an album within the framework of "electronic jazz" (with no further definition). Primarily concerned with acoustic music, Balke took the opportunity to explore the landscape of electronic percussion and synthesized soundscapes.

The inclusion of other voices and solistic ingredients came as the music developed and the choice of Nils Olav Johanssen, with his unique blending of voice and guitar came without much doubt.

Balke's percussion is mainly played on a "Cajon" (a wood box used in Flamenco music), Given to him by Rubem Dantas, Paco De Lucia's percussionist, with whom Balke has worked on several occasions.

The title "Saturation" refers to the process of developing an idea from a pure simple melodic figure through polyphonic and harmonic structures until the point where it becomes pure texture, completely saturated. The recording itself resembles that kind of process, from the first tunes, with simple form and repeated themes, to the last tune, which "hangs" as a curtain of sound at the end of the album.