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.

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.