MOLOK

Norwegian band GAZPACHO was formed back in the mid 1990's, and since they released their full length debut album "Bravo" back in 2003 they have developed into an increasingly more popular band nationally and internationally, steadily releasing new albums every other year or so. "Molok" is their most recent album, and was issued through noted UK label KScope in the fall of 2015.

One of the most striking features of the music crafted by Gazpacho are the vocals. While a lot is going on, the soaring, light toned lead vocals is an aspect of this band that makes an immediate impact, and that you do tend to focus on no matter what else is happening. Light toned, tender and frail, they add a distinct emotional laden punch to everything, more often than not with an underlying feeling of sadness and melancholia to them. And on occasion, they may soar up from the realms of the melancholic into the more jubilant as well. In terms of style, mood and delivery comparable to Radiohead's Thom Yorke, but where the intense nervous feeling Yorke has a specialty replaced by control and associations to emotions of a more delicate and less haunting kind.

This is a vocal style that may fit music over a fairly wide spectrum. On "Molok" Gazpacho appears to hone in on moods and arrangement of a more delicate nature throughout, where sequences and interludes pairing off the vocals with a delicate singular piano and similar sparse arrangements are recurring features. Of the more elaborate arrangements and themes explored, the greater majority of them also tends to hone in on the frail and the delicate, with slow paced, dampened instrument details being the order of the day, occasionally settling in richer, firmer and at times majestic crescendos. The latter much more of a rare occurrence, and all the more effective as a dramatic feature due to that.

The use of instrument details with a foundation in folk music is something of an identity mark of this album. Careful violin details, plucked string instruments and acoustic guitars, percussion and drum patterns with a slight tribal feel at times. Just about never to the extent of the music as such coming across as folk-oriented, but used as an effect to, possibly, add a more Earthy touch to the compositions. That another key feature is delicate sounds with something of a cosmic feel to them adds an elegant contrast and depth to the material, and with the aforementioned vocals the end result can often be rather stunning. Careful lead and backing vocal details, as well as clever use of organ also adds something of a sacral mood to these creations at times, adding a further dimension to the material and the total album context. There's also a token song that explores a more lively and vibrant landscape, Bela Kiss, where guest musician Stian Carstensen elevates the end result in a spectacular manner with his amazing accordion contribution.

"Molok" comes across as a highly sophisticated production on all levels. Those fond of multiple themes, ongoing developments and recurring features will get their needs catered for quite nicely, those who have a need for their music to be emotionally laden won't find this album missing in that department either, and those fond of intently listening to an album to uncover gentle details and subtle nuances will have a field day as well. A relatively careful and gentle production, with a focus on subtle rather than dramatic effects, well made and executed on all levels. A strong album, easily recommended to those with a taste for sophisticated music in general, and perhaps in particular to those with an affection for music of this kind to be of a generally emotionally laden and melancholic nature.

The ninth installment in Gazpacho's studio discography is the album 'Molok', originally released in 2015 on Kscope, a daring conceptual record that dares to pose the profound question about the existence (or non-existence) of God. And while the album itself does not give any definite answers, it uses this thematic thread in order to build around it the story of a man's journey who conceived and subsequently builds a machine that has the capacities to simulate the beginnings of time, with the machine named after the Biblical demon Molok, whose name brings along the ritual of child sacrifice. The story is rather intriguing, inventive and ingenious, and fits perfectly the bizarrely eclectic and strangely ordered world of Gazpacho, a band that has always been able to defy categorizations and stride forward with a pace of their own, drawing in a crowd of introspective devotees, as one might assume.

Needless to say, 'Molok' bolsters the band's signature art rock style that combines elements of neo-prog, folk rock, worldbeat, and alternative music - quite a fascinating mixture of styles that has served the band well, and while this album goes into a lighter direction, it remains one of the most focused, enriching, eclectic and expressive releases of the Norwegian rockers. Opening track 'Park Bench' immediately impresses with its abstract, minimal arrangements, which unfold into a full-blown chamber pop piece that takes equal amounts of inspiration from Marillion and Radiohead. 'The Master's Voice' is a lovely art rock number with quite a subtle sound design, while the third track 'Bela Kiss' plays around with some folk tropes, despite working as a straightforward pop song. Six-minute-long mini-suite 'Know Your Time', explores the more atmospheric side of Gazpacho's music, with the next song expanding upon its mood, flow and tempo, almost like a coda. 'ABC' is a more upbeat entry with a cheerfully soothing chorus, a bit like something you would expect to hear on a Coldplay album (with all the sadness included, of course). Around the album's end 'Algorithm' works as a fine interlude and introduces a touch of worldbeat to the album, while 'Alarm' only seems to pass by, giving way to the closing track 'Molok Rising', a 10-minute post-rock journey encapsulating Gazpacho's signature blend of neo-progressive writing with strands of folk and world music, definitely an ambitious and essential piece of atmospheric rock from this Norwegian group. And the entire 'Molok' album is an excellent excursion into their musical world, offering a beautifully chilling collection of songs, a work that brings together several essential elements of their past and ties them together into a very provocative but also endearing concept, which is what progressive music is all about after all.