
Young Mothers, The – Better If You Let It – New LP
The Young Mothers return with their third album, Better If You Let It, blending a genre-defying mix of jazz, hip-hop, punk, experimental rock, and electronic music. Formed by Norwegian bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten in Austin, Texas, the band’s sound is shaped by the diverse musical backgrounds of its members, hailing from both the U.S. and Norway. With influences spanning from Texas’ vibrant hip-hop and punk scenes to Norway’s experimental jazz traditions, the band creates a powerful fusion that feels cinematic and unpredictable.
The lineup includes Jawwaad Taylor (trumpet, rhymes, electronics) and Jason Jackson (tenor and baritone sax) from Houston, Stefan Gonzalez (vibraphone, drums, percussion, voice) from Dallas, Frank Rosaly (drums, electronics) from Chicago and Amsterdam, and Håker Flaten (bass) from Norway. This global roster brings together a dynamic, cross-cultural sound, with Better If You Let It showcasing their most cohesive and wide-ranging material yet. Recorded in Oslo and set for release on Sonic Transmission Records, the album is a bold statement, proving The Young Mothers’ ability to push musical boundaries across genres and geographie.
A lot of things happened between 2018 and 2024, not just the lockdown, but also Håker Flaten relocating from Austin to his native Norway. After numerous setbacks in 2022 the band finally got together again and recorded what is now ready as their third album: “Better If You Let It”. The music is unmistakably still The Young Mothers – fans will not be disappointed – but the band now shares the writing credits, a collective approach which makes for an even more diverse and wide palette of material. “Better If You Let It” is one of those albums that keeps you on your toes throughout, you never guess where the music goes next, yet upon repeated listening there clearly is a logic at work, these are not random juxtapositions, and the more time you spend with it the more it grows on you, and there is soon no doubt that “Better If You Let It” is The Young Mothers finest albums to date.
The line-up for the album is Jawwaad Taylor (trumpet / rhymes / electronics and programming), Jason Jackson (tenor and baritone sax), Stefan Gonzalez (vibraphone / drums / percussion & voice), Jonathan F. Horne (guitar), Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (acoustic and electric bass) and Frank Rosaly (drums / electronics and programming).
The album was produced by Håker Flaten and the band, recorded late 2022 by Christian Engfelt at Studio Paradiso in Oslo, and will be released
on Håker Flaten’s own Sonic Transmission Records.
Jawwaad Taylor – trumpet / rhymes / electronics & programming
Jason Jackson – tenor and baritone sax
Stefan Gonzalez – vibraphone / drums / percussion & voice
Jonathan F. Horne – guitar
Ingebrigt Håker Flaten – acoustic & electric bass
Frank Rosaly – drums / electronics & programming
Better If You Let It ( Jason Jackson [BMI] / Jawwaad Taylor [BMI] )
Hymn ( Jawwaad Taylor [BMI] )
Lijm ( Frank Rosaly [GEMA] / Jawwaad Taylor [BMI] )
Song For a Poet ( Dennis Gonzalez [BMI} )
Scarlet Woman Lodge ( Ingebrigt Håker Flaten [TONO] / Jawwaad Taylor [BMI] )
Recorded (Nov 2022) and mixed during 2023/2024 by Christian Engfelt at Studio Paradiso, Oslo.
Additional trumpet recorded in Houston, Texas by Josh Applebee Additional Vibraphone on Better If You Let It and Coil on Lijm recorded by Justin Lemons at Infinite Ohm in Denton
Intro 'magic' voices on Song for a Poet by Klara Weiss and Malwina Witkowska
Cover art by Juliane Schutz
Mastered April 2024 by Jørgen Trœen
Produced by Ingebrigt Håker Flaten & The Young Mothers
Sonic Transmissions Records 2024