(Beatservice/Creative Vibes)

Howard Maple is Norwegian born Havard Abusland. His highly acclaimed debut album Inside was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy award in 2000. With his first album being a limited release within his home country, his second album Mapleism is in effect his musical debut to the worldwide stage.

This album is a stunning testament to Howard Maple’s command of the music language. His lifelong dedication (from a very young age) to learning music with instruments of all shapes and size really does shine thru this project. One would dare not call it a masterpiece.

He doesn’t break any new ground musically, nor is he an experimentalist as such. However, what he does is unashamedly cross pollinate genres and parade the entire family of music instruments from one song to the other. What we also have here is the kind of musician that is in essence a composer. You want to hear his music! You wait with quivering anticipation for the next song to play, and indeed for his next album to surface.

He tackles the hip-hop lanes with Sal Qaeda featuring Salvador (from Dark Side of the Force) providing a surreal dose of Spanish rap. While MC Hexxagon (Steven Buckle) downs his book of hardcore reggae to the ambient scapes, trumpet solos and chill n bass vibes of Riddim Checka Part One and Riddim Checka Part Two.

Anja Øyen Vister features on Springtime. Bewitched by her Bjork like vocal whispers that she makes every star above her twinkle with joy. She’s The Best One lights up the dance floor of any 70’s pool party with it’s super cool, super funky, super disco bounce.

Live I Stua is a seductive funk rock odyssey which ignites to the vocals of Trond Kittelsen and a dazzling organ mode of a 1981 Korg Polysix. This is a definite high rotation highlight for me on the album. The pick of the punch that I would love to see performed live on stage.

Chicken Run is another masterpiece, full of surrealist humour. I think it’s a window into an oddly poetic sense of humour that Howard Maples wants to share thru a song. Samples of manic chicken voices scattered throughout the piece, mingling amongst an assembly of oriental violins and reggae funk. It’s a true masterpiece and another highlight on the album.

He is a multi instrumentalist who is superbly talented and not afraid to showcase his talent. Download Dub and Balance really speak of classical beauty with an extension of the violin charm.

The final track You Guessed It Mr Maple is packed with movie and radio voice samples. Deep, dark and dubby, I cannot help but make comparisons to a DJ Shadow style of music making. It’s a style that is diverse as a whole, yet charismatic, inviting and addictively satisfying.

It’s no wonder Howard Maple’s earlier work was nominated for a music accolade in his home country. Mapleism is a masterpiece and showcase of honesty in music and uncompromisingly raw music genius. Now that he has a worldwide debut album it won’t take long for his envied talent and beauty in music to be embraced by millions.

One of my favourite albums for 2003. Very highly recommended!