Highly recommended / Eyal Hareuveni,
Allaboutjazz.com
"Symbolically, the concluding piece is Sjøvaag's "On a Road That Never Ends," encompasses this excellent trio impressive vision and spirit."
Epletrioen / Roald Helgheim - Dagsavisen
"...ein hugnad å lytte til ein trio som i seg sjølv har gått eigne vegar i eit i utgangspunktet klassisk format i jazzen" - Roald Helgheim
Universal Cycle / Arild R. Andersen - Aftenposten
"Styrken i Universal cycle gir seg til kjenne i det organiske. Det er en sann kunst å senke skuldrene, holde tilbake og la kraften i det varsomme fortelle levende historier" - Arild R. Andersen
In Our Home, Where We Live / Arild Rønsen
"En klassiker er skapt. For vakrere blir det faktisk ikke" - Arild Rønsen
Fantastiske Epler / Tor Hammerø
"...en klassiker fra en av jazzverdenens hippeste utvida "pianotrioer" - Tor Hammerø
Pick of the Week: Eple Trio
"A prime example of how the best expressions of the Nordic Jazz style can craft dreamy soundscapes of beauty and still be active and engaging" -
Wonderingsound.com
From Sound & Image - DE
Universal Cycle / by Ruben Olsen Lærk
"This is a superbly executed soundtrack to long forgotten genres of science fiction movies about terraforming new planets" - Ruben Olsen Lærk
Sømløs Enhet / Olav Gorseth
"...en sømløs enhet av glimrende solister i inspirert samspill" - Olav Gorseth
Lira / Carl Magnus Juliusson
"Ibland är det så fint att det nästan är smärtsamt - det är skört och sårbart och strålande" - Carl Magnus Juliusson
Aron Nørsteby / Jazznytt
"Bandet forteller ekstremt tydelige historier som denne lytteren tas med i og tror på. Det er historier om at vakkert finnes" - Aron Nørsteby
Recommended: Eple Trio – “Universal Cycle”
"Just abeautiful album" - Dave Sumner
´Universal Cycle´ was made in a time where it felt natural to embrace extroversion as a mode of output. It may not become the norm.
From the liner notes, by Jonas H. Sjøvaag
Through a decade, this trio has developed a unique mode of interplay and improvisation, in the very grey area between written and improvised music. The inspirations stretches far beyond traditional jazz, which is audible through references to classical, folk and contemporary music. This results in melodic lines focusing on dynamic stretches and suggestive rhythm, where the interplay is always in focus.
The trio has already released three albums, and this is the fourth one available from October 1st, 2014. It features guest artists, namely guitarist Ivar Grydeland (Huntsville, Dans Les Arbres ++), and trumpet player Mathias Eick (ECM recording artist). Partially through their input, the mood of the record alternates between lyrical melodic lines presented over the intense backdrop of the trio, to improvisational pieces where the sounds interweave, creating a unique soundscape focusing on the exploration of musical possibilities.