FIRE FORTELLINGER

Lars Fredrik Frøislie is the keyboard player of Wobbler, a relatively new but well-respected Norwegian band that has become notorious for their quirky blend of retro progressive rock and symphonic cascades of sound, and Frøislie himself has been one of the engines of this recognizable sound of theirs, with his myriad of synths, keys, pianos and moogs, finally taking the time off the band to record his long-awaited debut solo album - much in the vein of the classic prog acts of the 70s and their keyboard maestros. And 'Fire Foretellinger', as the title of the record goes, is indeed a curious discovery that is very strongly informed by the classic symphonic rock bands of that era (think of Yes, Camel, VdGG), it offers four compositions, four keyboard-heavy arrangements, that explore variations of different themes and offer a plethora of fine sounds and masterful playing, as the ones familiar with the quirkiness of Wobbler might expect.

Nevertheless, this record does not departure from the sound and aesthetic of Frøislie's band and instead offers his unfiltered vision of this style of music, in a place where he is able to freely create and explore the possibilities of the analog world of various keyboards and related instruments, venturing into long movements of complex playing, technical interludes and large, pastoral soundscapes, all ingredients of the style emulating the classic era of progressive rock. The four pieces on here are meant to represent four stories, and while Frøislie handles all the keys, drums, vocals and production duties, he is joined by a guest bassist who also does a pretty fantastic job. Two large pieces bookmark the album, both some seventeen minutes in change, all very symphonic and large-scale, sometimes bombastic and methodological, sometimes mellower and more pastoral, but for sure Frøislie tries out a lot of different techniques and sounds and it is all really good. The two "shorter" compositions on here also present some fine musical episodes, although they seem to be the "safer" trials and almost work as complementary pieces to the two large epics. 'Fire Fortellinger' is a solid, well-executed release that fits perfectly into the retro prog niche, and like other similar albums, it is pleasant and technically impressive, even if this kind of music is not necessarily groundbreaking or vigorously innovative.

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