SALIGHET

More solid Prog folk-based original music from this Norwegian duo here releasing their fourth full-length studio album.

1. "Invokasjon" (2:52) impressive but lacking anything really engaging to the soul. (8.75/10)

2. "Sankeren" (7:22) sounding very much like WOBBLER. I like the mediæval folk third minute best. Besides the solid instrumental performances throughout, this is not anything so very exciting or innovative here. (13.25/15)

3. "Salighet I" (6:17) the opening 75 seconds of folk play is exceptional, followed by a nice passage of psychedelia. My favorite song on the album. (8.875/10)

4. "Salighet II" (6:10) more electrified and Krautrock grooving than its predecessor. Nice folk melodies. Another top three song. (8.875/10)

5. "Ura" (6:39) psychedelia that starts out either a little too sad and down or lacking melodies to hook the listener depite its change into a more 1970s happy-go-lucky JETHRO TULL-like tune. (8.875/10)

6." Danseritualer fra Jordsjø - Prosesjon & Ekstase" (2:55) opens like a true folk rock tune of the circa 1970 era with Hammond organ and blues rock foundation. Guitars and flutes are busy until lead electric guitar takes the lead in the second minute. Nice solo over a MOTORPSYCHO-like foundation. Some great performances of a nice composition. (8.875/10)

7. "Stjernestigen" (10:21) opens like the unfolding of a folk story being told through ballet movement. As the music develops, slowly and in spurts, it continues to retain this storytelling --in a WOBBLER or CICCADA kind of way. (I keep expecting to hear the dulcet tones of Evangelina Kozoni's crystalline voice.)At 3:20 we get the introduction of Håkon Oftung's vocal, voice doubled up, over supportive organ, bass, and drums with synth soloing in between vocal verses. Nice. Gentle and perpetuating the storytelling feel despite losing the ballet quality. I very much like the chorus buildup and double-guitar-duel of the instrumental passage to follow. In the seventh minute heavily treated vocal precedes an instrumental passage over which piano solos--a melody that is later duplicated and mirrored by the untreated electric guitar. Nice work. It's practically a classical piece the way the two instruments are attuned to one another--even into a tenth minute as the other background support instruments gradually fade into nothingness. By the time the final 30 seconds arrives we are left with only the piano to carry forward the melody line--once again sounding like something that might support a ballet dance. (18/20)

Total Time 42:36

An album of very nicely performed, admirably intricate compositions that somehow fail to reach the heights of masterpiece status.

B+/four stars; an excellent addition of variable prog folk music to any prog lover's music collection--all composed and performed by two artists without any other collaborators.

Watch out for old retro prog approaching, for fans, ultra fans and lovers of the atmospheres of times gone by!

1.Invokasjon intro or not vintage sounds which smell like the sounds of yesteryear, yes you see you still have to be hooked, hooked, in short with teeth, otherwise the shift will act 2.Sankeren shows the extent of their sound field; folk rock borders on psyche with this Nordic voice; a time to get used to it, a break time with a variation ranging from ZAPPA to ÄNGLAGÅRD, from CAMEL to KING CRIMSON and GENESIS for the warm and languorous keyboards, a jazzy touch sprinkled on top and Kristian's characteristic pad which dates back; yes, a good retro prog like I thought I wouldn't listen to anymore; the air calms down before returning to the initial rhythm, complex and hilarious 3.Salighet I acoustic guitar on a Håkon flute that does almost everything; a wandering of sounds from the 70's, vocals from the 60's, the regression goes far, very far; it's beautiful without a doubt, the choirs are warm, the Karisma sound like my favorite group GENESIS did on 'Trespass'; yes, 50 years ago, but now why regress so far and so wildly? The sounds from before are not enough? The guitar solo is cute, invites you to daydream; be careful not to undress and dance naked to the very special folk rhythm 4.Salighet II sequel I don't know but the atmosphere goes on the same muddy paths of dark lands; the voice gives way to the flute for a bucolic break, more psyche than symphonic except for this too short organ finale which is quickly replaced by sound effects and this sax, not baritone, no, in short this traditional instrument

5.Ura continues, a rock guitar with a flute showing the direction of the path; rock takes over folk before the oboe, sampled or not, makes the air vibrate; jazzy-rock in the distance before returning to a round, delicate symphonic 6.Danseritualer fra Jordsjø - Prosesjon & Ekstase for the acoustic interlude given the 3 mins; otherwise the tune invites you even more to travel with this crystalline guitar, surfing on the great old ones who simply made music that they loved; the best title so far 7.Stjernestigen solemn piano and instrumentation eyeing a confusing, OLDFIELD; the voice must be practiced so as not to be thrown off track; the guitar solo halfway through is a stunning, symphonic bombast; it leads to a melodic decrescendo giving way to the captivating piano

Scandinavian symphonic, combining several genres and recreating a new breed of 'symphonism'; ÄNGLAGÅRD was to be their bedside band, today it would be TUSMØRKE; during the 90s I found it beautiful and used!

The dynamic duo out of Norway are back in 2023 with "Salighet" a 42 1/2 minute, seven track affair. I'm a huge fan of the cover art and as far as the music goes I feel this is their best one yet. It took me the longest of all of their albums to appreciate, I was starting to wonder there, but this is their most serious work and it's an absolute pleasure.

Hakon Oftung again plays a variety of instruments and sings. What a talent. It's his guitar work that stood out for me this time. He's taken those intricate melodies to another level here. But his keyboard work including fender rhodes, organ, clavinet and mellotron are all over this one plus he's is fairly dominant with the flute at times. He also recorded, produced and mixed this album. The drummer Kristian Froland keeps getting better if that's possible and we have three guests with two of them playing clarinet and synths and the other offering backing vocals. The clarinet is such a great add on for me and all three of these guests have been on past JORDSJO albums.

I'm not sure what took me so long to crack this one because it's usually pretty immediate with this band, I love retro music but this one just seemed different and it was harder to figure out at times. I think it was my fourth spin when I decided to really listen to the music and that was the key. I can't pick a top three because I'm right into all of the seven tunes and this has a uniform sound to it thankfully.

I will mention the guitar after 5 1/2 minutes on the closer bringing to mind GILA and POPOL VUH's Conny Veit. Also the distorted organ bringing Canterbury to mind again around 5 1/2 minutes on "Salighet I". And lastly the way the album ends over those 4 minutes or so as it drifts along beautifully. So many highlights though and no hesitation with the 5 stars. I'm excited about this one and yes a top ten for 2023. This one will have staying power.