JORD

JORDSJO are a relatively new band out of Norway and this is studio album number three for these guys although they also have a split album with another band which is apparently more in the Electronic realm of things. This particular album touches on Folk but is more in the Symphonic style bringing ANGLAGARD to mind quite often. This is surprising to me because the Swedish melancholy is all over this album with plenty of mellotron too but they aren't Swedish! The ANGLAGARD vibe for me is very strong, as I hear it in the vocals, keyboards, flute and guitar.

I like what Simon(Mascodagama) said about this album in comparing it to ANGLAGARD. To paraphrase "It has more room to breathe and is less suffocating than what the Swedes offer". Listening to this had me thinking though as to why we haven't heard more albums that sound like ANGLAGARD and SINKADUS. I can think of the American band MAXWELL'S DEMON but it is surprising given how popular in Prog circles that ANGLAGARD is that more bands haven't jumped on that sound.

"Over Vidda" is the less than 2 minute intro track that is somewhat haunting with atmosphere and flute. "Abstraksjoner Fra Et Dunkeit Kammer" opens with relaxed guitar followed by laid back flute and these will be contrasted until it starts to pick up 1 1/2 minutes in with drums and more. So good! Love that guitar. Vocals before 2 minutes. A change after 3 minutes as it picks up with guitar and drums before the organ joins in. It settles before 5 minutes with flute and organ then the guitar starts to light it up as the tempo picks up again. Vocals are back before 6 minutes. There's that excellent guitar again.

"Finske Skoger" has these intricate guitar melodies but soon bass, drums, flute and organ join in. A catchy little number. "Jord I" opens with organ followed by melancholic flute and relaxed acoustic guitar melodies. Drums join in then it picks up 1 1/2 minutes in, mellotron too. This is incredible. Electric guitar to the fore after 2 minutes, mellotron as well. Vocals 3 minutes in as it calms down and check out the mellotron choirs 4 minutes in with intricate guitar and keys. Love this! Vocals are back before 5 minutes with mellotron, drums and guitar. Some outbursts after 6 minutes with mellotron to end it.

"Jord II" is the longest song at 8 1/2 minutes and it opens with intricate guitar and strummed acoustic guitar as what sounds like violin joins in. A change 1 1/2 minutes in and man this sounds like ANGLAGARD with the flute over top. The keyboards sound amazing 2 minutes in and check out the flute and mellotron before 3 1/2 minutes. The tempo picks up a minute later. So impressive! Love those keyboards. Some piano melodies then it settles with acoustic guitar 6 1/2 minutes in followed by flute. It picks up again. Man this is killer!

"L Mog Forsvinne!" has an interesting start with those spacey sounds. Synths lead the way here. Vocals 1 1/2 minutes in with melodic guitar and a beat. This is really good. Drums and keyboards lead after 4 minutes as the vocals step aside briefly. A nice heavy sound here as the vocals return. More great sounding guitar after 5 minutes then the vocals return before 6 minutes. "Postludium" is spacey and electronic sounding. Spacey synths before 4 minutes to end it.

Yes this will be right near the top, if not at the top of my "best of" list for 2017, I can guarantee that. The Norwegians seem to be taking over the Prog scene and I for one am quite happy about that. Masterpiece!