Hedvig Mollestad: Guitarist Sheds Machismo for Nuance

Hedvig Mollestad, known for her virtuosic and often extravagant guitar work, has released 'Bitches Blues,' an album that marks a significant shift in her musical direction. The Norwegian guitarist, typically associated with prog rock and expansive sounds, now embraces a more exploratory and team-player approach with organist Ståle Storløkken and drummer Ole Mofjell, forming the Hedvig Mollestad Weejuns.

The album's opening track, 'Bitches Blues,' immediately signals a departure, leaning into free improvisation rather than bombastic solos. While the trio builds towards explosiveness, they maintain a controlled tension, making their eventual embrace of straight-ahead rhythm feel earned. This sets the stage for the album's exploration of diverse moods.

Following the initial intensity, nearly half of 'Bitches Blues' delves into gentle and introspective territory. Tracks like 'Kompet Blir' offer a hushed atmosphere with a steady drum beat and exploratory guitar noodling, complemented by Storløkken's haunting organ melodies. This softer approach continues on 'Limite' and 'For a moment I thought I could hear you,' showcasing Mollestad's refined ability to convey emotion through simpler arrangements.

Mollestad's maturation is particularly evident on 'Dynamax,' a track that builds from restraint to a powerful wave of guitar chords, blending hard-rock grandeur with a no-wave edge. The patient structure allows her solos to breathe, highlighting both her skilled restraint and the supporting interplay from her bandmates. The album concludes with the contemplative 'Recollection of sorrow,' a sparse and atmospheric piece that underscores Mollestad's newfound confidence in subtlety.