The instrument at the heart of this recording by the prolific New Yorkbased Norwegian bassist Eivind Opsvik is the harpsichord. Though generally synonymous with baroque, you can forget about any polite form of chamber jazz here. Although it has its quieter acoustic moments too, Overseas IV is a highly original sounding blast of eerie prog-jazz, Naked City Zorn and math rock. The band Overseas was formed in 2002 around the time Opsvik first arrived in New York, and he has since performed with Paul Motian, Dave Binney and adopted New Yorker John Escreet among others. Opsvik's compositions contain unpredictable arrangements of sound and texture with moody tenor saxophonist Tony Malaby alternating between whirls of warped glam-R&B sax and free bop ambience. On the front sleeve artwork Opsvik is sitting alone in an old-fashioned, immaculately furnished room, and the bassistcomposer creates a sense of tension between old world and new on this excellent recording.