With NP3, Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer is still refining his passion for chilled clubland rather than sitting in a darkened jazz theatre. "Tabula Rasa" establishes a mood of oceanic ambience, deep whale-groans hovering in the distance. Then, a bassy pulse builds up, broken radio voices infiltrate and Molvaer's heavily processed trumpet enters. Its grainy North African texture is very reminiscent of Jon Hassell's trademark sound: a kind of non-trumpet transformation, with all edges rubbed off. It's an evocative technique, but Molvaer remains heavily indebted to Hassell. The beats are already flapping in on "Axis of Ignorance", developing a dense and hard robo-funk pattern. Molvaer's immersing himself in programming, crafting what almost sounds like a single extended track, steadily shifting in its accents and texture. "Presence" finds Molvaer completely alone, breath sounds laced into the layered fabric, some of his best horn work arriving as this piece merges into "Simply So". The closing "Nebuliser" was produced by Deathprod, its fragmented drum & bass roll augmented by DJ Teebee, crashing beats scattered with guitar strafes, peaking with an explosive trumpet solo. Maybe Deathprod should produce Molvaer's next album. --Martin Longley