News about e.s.t.

Well, not really about e.s.t., which no longer exists, but about the group's former bass player, Dan Berglund. This just in from Hopper Management:

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Only two weeks after they concluded their highly successful tour of the UK and Ireland Dan Berglund´s TONBRUKET will be out on tour again – this time in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (please find tour dates below).

Don´t miss out on the chance to see the former bassist of e.s.t. with his new outfit, featuring John Lindström (Per Texas Johansson) on guitar, Martin Hederos (Soundtrack of our Lives) on piano and Andreas Werliin (Wildbirds & Peacedrums) on drums.

Their new album “Tonbruket” has charted in Sweden at No. 15 of the pop album charts and in Germany on No. 3 of the JVC Jazz Charts.

Mojo magazine gives 4 out of 4 stars and writes: “From e.s.t.-ish ambient rock through haunting alt folk to riff-heavy prog, this is a compelling electro-acoustic smorgasbord, full of melancholy beauty and life-affirming surprise”.

And the Musikwoche in Germany titles: “Neue Entfaltung der e.s.t.-Magie“ (New enfolding of the e.s.t. magic).

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Reactions to Berglund's new band and CD are mixed. There's a concert review worth reading on The Jazz Breakfast blog (UK). Ian Mann reviews the CD (and other reviews) at The Jazz Mann.

I always liked e.s.t. as a whole very much, but it was Berglund who most often caught my eye and ear, with his big bald head and muscular, effects-filled arco playing. He was like something out of "The Matrix" or "Dark City"--not in a bad way, just otherworldly. Sounds like he's going more in a rock direction, which doesn't surprise me at all.

More about the CD here.