Per Mathisen (aka the Norwegian Bass Viking) recorded a first edition of Sounds of 3 in 2016 with a different line-up with guitarist Frode Alnaes and Cuban drummer Giraldo Piloto. Here he switches seamlessly between electric fretted, fretless and acoustic bass in a no-frills, contemporary fusion set alongside John McLaughlin's virtuosic UK powerhouse drummer Gary Husband and Swedish guitarist Ulf Wakenius. The latter is highly thought of, but hasn't made so much of an impression as a leader. He steps up here though: a steaming bebop-charged solo on his ‘Lines for Oscar’ being one instance, albeit with impeccable backing. Husband's ‘Alphabet Soup’ demonstrates the drummer-composer's harmonic sophistication, with the title perhaps alluding to its slinky Prince-ish groove. Per Mathisen's finger-popping fretless on his ‘Invasion’ is infectious and ‘16 Knodeln’ boasts a raw brand of Sco-funk. His expressive Jaco-indebted fretless and Wakenius' lyrical lead make charming work of Mike Stern's ‘What Might Have Been’, the only flawed track being the sole cover on the album, The Police's ‘Wrapped Around Your Finger’, which isn't a very tuneful piece to begin with. That aside, this coolly compact, airy funk-fusion trio hits the spot.