Caligonaut for Symphonic or Folk

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Caligonaut announces the release of his debut solo album Magnified as Giants. Caligonaut is a solo project by artist Ole Michael Bjørndal, a guitarist best known for his work with Oak, Airbag and Bjørn Riis Band. Bjørndal has composed the music, written the lyrics and also performs lead vocals. 

     The album will be released through Norwegian label Apollon Records Prog on February 26, 2021 on all platforms – vinyl, CD and digital. The performers on the record include members of Wobbler, Airbag, Oak, Pymlico and Meer, and a special guest appearance by Norwegian church organ legend Iver Kleive. 

      Magnified as Giants contains four songs within a classic prog rock landscape inspired by the guitar and bass work of King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Genesis and Rush but blended with the more modern sounds of Tool and Opeth. Several of the pieces are written in Robert Fripp’s new standard tuning. The album also features an extended use of vintage keyboards played by Wobbler keyboardist Lars Fredrik Frøislie.

       Caligonaut is a word composed of the Latin words for mist or dimness, “caligo”, and traveller/ navigator, “naut”, lyrical themes that are also prominent on the album. The album artwork was created by visual artist Marte Bjørndal, who has held exhibitions in Brazil, South Africa, China and Russia. The photography is by Anne-Marie Forker, known primarily for her work with Marillion. The album is mixed by Lars Fredrik Frøislie and mastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo. 

       Ole Michael Bjørndal has recorded and played live with
Airbag, Oak, Gentle Knife and Bjørn Riis Band since 2012. Airbag
describes him as “an essential part of our touring band for
nearly a decade and both his playing and stage presence have
no doubt had a big impact on Airbag becoming a more confident
and mature band”. Together with Airbag, Oak and Bjørn Riis
Band, Bjørndal has performed at festivals like Cruise to the Edge
(2015/19), Night of The Prog (2019), «2Days Prog + 1 Festival» in
Veruno, Italy (2016) and «Artrock i Stadsträdgården» in Lidköping,
Sweden (2019), and he has toured in England, Poland, The
Netherlands and Sweden. 

       Since 2012, Bjørndal has attended
several courses with Guitar Circle, formerly known as Guitar
Craft, which was founded by Robert Fripp and uses new standard
tuning. One of these courses was a week in Caorle, Italy directed
by Fripp himself. 

       Bjørndal on the album: “Magnified as Giants was born out of a
growing desire to make an album where l decide the direction of
the music and build on my experience as a musical performer.”

      His foremost musical companion is Wobbler bassist Kristian
Hultgren, who has played with Bjørndal in various projects since
2007. With the exception of vocals and keys, all recordings were
made at Double Decker Studio by the steady handed Pymlico
founder Arild Brøter. Bjørndal chose to record the vocals under
the guidance of Wobbler frontman Andreas W. S. Prestmo at his
private studio, Vilthagen Studios. The result is an album of four
unique songs that will take the listener on a journey through
several decades of progressive music with Bjørndal’s guitar and
voice as the focal point.

TRACKS:
 Emperor - 14:35 (O. M. Bjørndal) 
Hushed feat. Iver Kleive - 10:43 (O. M. Bjørndal) 
Magnified as Giants - 05:46 (O. M. Bjørndal) L
ighter than Air - 19:34 (O. M. Bjørndal/K. K. Hultgren)

Ole Michael Bjørndal: Lead vocals, electric guitars, acoustic guitar
(tuned in new standard tuning), 12-string guitars 
Kristian Karl Hultgren (Wobbler): Bass guitars 
Andreas W. S. Prestmo (Wobbler): Backing vocals
 Lars Fredrik Frøislie (Wobbler): Hammond organ,
Mellotron, grand piano, synths and keyboards
 Iver Kleive: Church organ on Hushed
 Arild Brøter (Pymlico): Drums and percussion on
Hushed and Lighter than Air
 Henrik Fossum (Airbag): Drums on Emperor 
Åsa Ree (Meer and Wobbler): Violin and backing vocals
on Emperor and Hushed 
Stephan Hvinden (Pymlico and Oak): Rhythm guitars on Hushed
Mastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo (White Willow, Frequency Drift)

As I listened  I thought, "Bjørndal approaches his craft like an ancient woodworker who fells his own trees. Bjørndal fells a Porcupine Tree, an Oak, an old King Crimson Maple, and an Opeth Spruce. Bjørndal's astonished me at his ability to cut, fashion, sand, and polish his sylvan influences seamlessly into four personal woodcuts of prog poetry.

Bjørndal's guitar sepia solos soar like the seagull cornet at the end of the King Crimson song, Islands. Twelve string guitars. This guy must play with his fingers like Linsey Buckingham. Bass and Keys erupt like Spring bluebells against the softer wheat tones.

Lars Fredrik Frøislie of Wobbler's analog keyboards and a rhythm section reminiscent of Genesis era combination of Wind and Wuthering and Nursery Crime. Vocal harmonies from the forest. Retro, similar vein to Opeth's Pale Communion. Introspective poetic lyrics. Melodies galore.
-Cindy O 

https://caligonaut.bandcamp.com/album/magnified-as-giants

Edited by omphaloskepsis - February 28 2021 at 08:16