GAMLE MESTER

I wasn't expecting a second solo album from Lars Fredrik Frøislie so fast, given the tediously long waits between Wobbler albums (look at the wait between Rites at Dawn and From Silence to Somewhere, literally six years, so the big shock of the three years for Dwellers of the Deep). COVID hits, so slowing down the already slow process for a new Wobbler release (better than being overran by releases like Ayreon or the Flower Kings), so Lars records a solo album in the form of Fire Fortellinger. That one took me by surprise because I was wondering what a solo effort might be like from him. Wonder no more. I was expecting maybe he'd get Martin Nordrum Kneppen of Wobber to do the drum parts, but instead Lars did it, and he even did the vocals. In fact, he did it all aside from the bass parts. I was amazed with Fire Fortellinger, but looking back I felt there was room for improvement but improved he did. I felt on Fire Fortellinger maybe he wasn't completely confident going on a solo venture, but with Gamle Mester he certain has. Once again it doesn't take any rocket scientist to figure out how important Lars is to the Wobbler sound, it's obvious. To me, it sounds like if Tusmørke made full-on symphonic prog in the vein of Wobber with a bit of Jordsjø thrown in. Lars's vocals sound like Benediktator of Tusmørke. Instead of four cuts, here it's six, and it's full of everything you want, lots of authentic vintage keyboards, including Mellotron and even the Chamberlin M1 (I remembered back in 2009 seeing him purchase that Chamberlin from an American seller on YouTube and Wobbler was starting to record Rites at Dawn then, to be released in 2011) and lots of great arrangements. To me the highlights are "Jakten På Det Kalydonske Villsvin", the title track, and "De Tre Gratier". To me, this is some of the finest prog to have come out in recent years, and if you love Fire Fortellinger, get Gamle Mester right away, it's deserving a classic!

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