TWILIGHT FIELDS

4.5 stars. I find this fascinating that in a High School in Norway in 1995 the idea for a Father Robin trilogy was conceived. Shelved obviously for various reasons but the core trio were part of a band called FANGORN around this time(mid 90's) named after that Lord Of The Rings character. This trio didn't release an album but did record some music. I'm not familiar with the bass player or drummer from that band but the singer Andreas Wettergreen Stromman Prestmo we all know as the current WOBBLER singer. The man has a golden voice and is a multi- instrumentalist and knows his way around the studio. THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN is his baby. He arranged, produced and wrote the music for this EP.

I was going to say that this EP was a teaser for the studio album but ten years is beyond being a teaser. The title track on this EP is on that forthcoming studio album to be released next month, while the second track "The Ritual Of The Beneficial Ancestor" is only found here. So we get that FANGORN trio plus a flute/electric piano player and the lead guitarist for THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE. Big fan of that band by the way and while they play modern Post-Rock clearly this guitarist is into the Retro music played here. And Lars Fredrik Froisile is here! He only plays on that 16 plus title track but he brings it as he usually does. Organ, mellotron, chamberlin, clavinet and more. The man has more weapons then the U.S. Army.

"Twilight Fields" is haunting to start as organ comes out of the atmosphere with some dark lines. It kicks into a full sound before a minute as the organ cries out. We get calms throughout as contrasts and Andreas graces us with his voice and he sings in different styles. Some experimental moments and of course mellotron! That second track is more of a soundscape especially early on which surprised me the first time I heard it. Flute comes and goes with no real melody in sight. A darker sound 3 minutes in then it starts to move but slowly at first before settling back again. Headphone music.

I am excited for the first studio album by this band and certainly this EP has a lot to do with that. Hakon from JORDSJO while not on this EP will be on the studio album among others not present here.