Bremer/McCoy, a duo formed by former schoolmates bassist Jonathan Bremer and pianist Morten McCoy, is known for their meditative mix of jazz and ambient soundscapes. They create minimalist and deeply emotional music that balances warmth and melancholy. Kosmos, their sixth studio album, continues their original signature exploration of calmness and further deepens their previous work. Stockholm Jazz Festival was the last stop of the Kosmos tour, which made Bremer/McCoy’s visit even more special.
When trying to summarise what Bremer/McCoy’s style is all about, I find it hard to think rationally through the “I think” approach because their music needs to be felt. This way, I feel that their art is about transitioning from happiness to sadness and back again.
The Danish duo cultivates a sense of longing for something unattainable. Most of the time, when you truly aspire to something, you may become competitive, determined, assertive and, more often than not, a bit too much. Their music, however, brings out the humility and quiet acceptance of things greater than us.
As a result, feelings of despair and hope intertwine with the calm perspective on reality, leaving nothing to worry about – just experience, live and learn.
Since we’re not aiming to rationalise the experience of listening to Bremer/McCoy’s music, I can only hope I have managed to describe the feeling. Now, let’s set the atmosphere. Picture a mystical forest where the bittersweet creatures of dawn live and die. The composition Dream stood out to me the most, fostering a kind of spiritual connection with nature. The amplified keys of Morten McCoy’s piano sounded like water running through your fingers, while the anchoring, constant bass in the hands of Jonathan Bremer, in turn, drew the free-willed, wandering piano like moths to a flame and guided it home.
And, naturally, once you catch a fleeting glimpse of something you recognise, your mind keeps adding to it. What was that sound? Is it the Nordic druids strolling through the forest? Is it the Södermalm hipsters hunting for the next best coffee drip? I don’t know, but I believe them.
Regner falder snart brought in a different kind of energy, less mystical but more hygge. Bremer/McCoy perfectly represented their home country’s philosophy, transporting the audience to the warmth of their cosy homes full of candles, wool blankets and good dinners within a small inner circle.
So when you feel the need to decompress after a long day or to daydream a little bit, Bremer/McCoy is a safe space you can always return to.
