Morten Haxholm | Aether II | June 27, 2025

Following the Danish Music Award-nominated AETHER, Danish bassist and composer Morten Haxholm continues to expand his unique approach to contemporary jazz with AETHER II—a deeply personal and atmospheric collection that reimagines the modern ballad through minimalist textures, Nordic lyricism, and delicate electronic elements.

Set for release on June 27th via Zack’s MUSIC, AETHER II builds on the introspective sound world of its predecessor while pushing further into dynamic extremes and tonal richness. Simple acoustic melodies float alongside grainy field recordings, ambient soundscapes, and carefully applied post-production, creating a sound that feels both grounded and otherworldly.

“The AETHER albums revolve around the ‘ballad’ as a concept,” Haxholm explains, “but this time, I wanted to challenge that stillness—stretch it dynamically, add density, and let discrete electronic elements enrich the acoustic world.”

Each track on the album is rooted in personal stories, dedicated to the people, places, and memories that have shaped Haxholm’s life. The gentle sway of Magnolia evokes childhood afternoons in his grandparents’ garden, while the track Coda incorporates real forest sounds from the area where his brother lives—layered with hand-played electronic percussion that nods to his brother’s own experimental music practice. Silveon, named after a beloved toy of Haxholm’s eldest daughter, is built around a naïve, singable melody that reflects her energy and light. The album closes with Incarnadine, a thoughtful hymn that gradually transforms into a ritualistic chant, echoing themes of transformation, memory, and release.

Visually, the album is complemented by cover art created in collaboration with Haxholm’s daughters—a reflection of the familial connections and shared creativity that inspired the project.

Having spent a decade immersed in the modern jazz scene in New York—releasing seven albums and collaborating with leading American musicians—AETHER II marks Haxholm’s continued return to his Nordic roots, both musically and emotionally.

Line up

Track Listing

Abstract (intro)
Silveon
Untethered
Coda
Magnolia
Siren Song
Winterkeeper
Elegy
Shimmers
Incarnadine

PR Quotes

Jazz Views (UK)
“unfolds with quiet space and subtle shifts, its melodies and moods crafted with a tenderness that lingers—music that invites close listening and stays with you long after it ends”

Paris-move (FR)
“AETHER II is not just a jazz album. It’s a meditation, a love letter to memory, and a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and remember. In a world too often driven by noise and speed, this is music for quiet afternoons, shared moments, and the simple act of being present”

SK Jazz (SK)
“His new music unfolds in a quiet space and in subtle shifts, melodies and moods are created with tenderness.”

Jazz Weekly (USA)
“Mellow musings”

Esensja (PL)
“If this is why you listen closely to recordings by artists from this region, you can’t miss the new work of Danish double bassist Morten Haxholm.”

La Habitacion del Jazz (ES)
“intimate atmosphere and minimalist textures”

Era Jazzu (PL)
“The music builds on an introspective sound world that ventures into dynamic extremes and tonal richness”

FREQ (UK)
“Aether II may seem cosy and soft but the little ripples that are scattered throughout give cause to reconsider.”

Jazz-fun (DE)
“An outstanding album that touches and inspires”

Musik an sich (DE)
“if you immerse yourself in it intensely, can actually conjure up images—images characterized by expansiveness and expressionism, at times seductively meditative with a tendency toward dreaming.”