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Mats/Morgan Band - The Music or The Money? 2 x CDs

SKU Rune 301-302
"..influenced by Miles Davis, Frank Zappa, the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Earth, Wind & Fire. (They are) tight and precise and seem capable of playing absolutely anything with great gusto...the Mats/Morgan men integrate everything and make it their own."-Audiophile Audition

Voted the #1 'fusion' drummer in the 2010 Modern Drummer reader's poll: Morgan Agren

Keyboardist/vocalist Mats Öberg and drummer Morgan Ågren have been playing together for nearly 30 years, since Mats was 10 and Morgan was 14! They were 'discovered' at a very young age by Frank Zappa, who invited them to join his band (Zappa's ill health ultimately cancelled these tour plans) and they are musical legends in their native Sweden and beyond, known for their wild and funny musical performances. The Music or the Money was their second album (which to this day is still Mats' favorite of their releases), which was originally self-released in 1997 and only available at their shows. The album showcases two different halves to the musician's work; spontaneous playing on compositions and improvisations by the duo with and without additional musicians and as a sort of stylistic counterpoint to that, music that relies on heavily programmed electronic materials, in the vein of Frank Zappa's synclavier works. Both are top drawer players, but their music is not simply a chops-fest of blurred, fast notes - there is a lot of humor and restraint mixed into the virtuosity, which gives them a unique sound. This new edition of The Music or The Money? adds over 45' of unreleased material, all of which features the current version of the Mats/Morgan Band; Mats, Morgan and bassist Gustaf Hielm, who was the bassist of technical metal legends Meshuggah for many years.

"I am floored by their ability to legitimately execute everything from light jazz to super-human staggered 16th note hell to the most violent Pantera-like machine-gun groove to overly-complex synclavier Zappa music… This band can do everything; and it’s just two weird guys from Sweden."-Ink 19

You can hear their music here


  • LabelCuneiform
Your Price $21.00
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