PLAYS BOB W. AND OTHER SELECTIONS

Norwegian band from the cold city of Trondheim,starting as a quintet under the name Fig Leaf Museum.They changed two bass players and vocalists in a short period,yet they managed to record the low-budget debut ''Hum'' in 1992.By 1993 the band was shortened to a trio with Gunar Berg on keys/bass/vocals,Age Skar on bass and Pal Iversen on guitars.It was the arrival of bassist Per Fla,which breezed some fresh air to the band,which finally shortened its name to simply Fig Leaf.This quartet recorded the album ''Plays Bob W. And Other Selections'' in 1995,released on their own Fig Leaf Music.

The album offers a weird mix of organ-driven Psychedelic Rock,powerful Hard Rock and lyrical Prog with plenty of energy but no actual diversity.Filled with short and mid-length tracks and lasting over 70 minutes,''Plays Bob W. And Other Selections'' has its ups and downs,almost completely based on Iversen's highly dynamic guitar playing and Berg's driving organ all the way.Berg's voice often flirts with PETER HAMMILL-like tones,which I like a lot.The song are decent,yet a bit monotonous,with standard structures,long guitar jamming,dynamic grooves in a slow-tempo and organ solos,adding a retro flavor to the album.The most hard-edged tracks are close to the likes of DEEP PURPLE,QUATERMASS or ATOMIC ROOSTER without reaching the masters' standards,the more psychedelic ones are in the vein of VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR and they are definitely the more attractive ones.

Not entirely conveincing,the album falls short compared to other bands like AREKNAMES,MEN OF LAKE,ABIOGENESI or BLACK BONZO,which tried the same path in a more succesful and inspired way.Yet ''Plays Bob W. And Other Selections'' still contains some good moments,but it will propably appreciated only by fans of the heavier side of Psych/Prog Rock...2.5 stars.