KOGEL MOGEL

The "Kogel Mogel" dogma is: All music is to be recorded live without any overdubs". The album therefore has what the Norwegian band SOT terms "very different energy". Skjalg Reithaug plays guitars, Anders Hunstad on drums, keys, and Lars Andreas Haug plays tuba, trumpet, and all three have a stint on vocals. The lyrics are unimportant and unintelligible at times; it is the music here that paints the taspestry.

Opening with T'mmer (3:03), think Gentle Giant on acid with quirky chants of T'mmer. One may be reminded of Magma in places, at least in spirit if not execution. These Norwegian nutters are off and running with this track and then launch into Salt 3/4 (4:51) that has that trademark lead Tuba sound and a ton of lead guitar improvisations. It is clear that the band just get together and unleash what ever they feel. The music has a lot of passion and in fact the lyrics that may be nonsense in parts or Norwegian dialect, which ever one may believe while listening, it works to augment the outer worldly music. Kjede Tegn (3:42) is a guitar and tuba workout. The rhythm is as fractured as other tracks and the drumming is sublime throughout. The weird lyrics enter again, as mad as Hocus Pocus by Focus. Str'salt (4:58) is a slower piece with guitar vibrations and ethereal atmospherics. The cymbals clash gently as a washed out background and then the beautiful saxophone by Grzech Piotrowski chimes in. The effect is haunting and may lull you into a trance. Ekspertgraad (2:31) is short and jumps out of your speakers with a ferocity; chaotic percussion and off kilter melodies of sax, tuba and guitar. Then a weird antithesis of jazz and out of sync RIO tempos jolt your eardrums. It's jazz but not as we know it and I like it.

Ind (3:56) has a cool riff with twanging Shadows guitar and an estranged meter. The saxophone is glorious and emotionally charged. I like how the sax keeps in time with the complex rhythms of guitar and drums. Commandore (3:19) is the tuba in a playful mood and very cool guitars and a bizarre phased vocal that may get too weird for the average listener. It does not last and the time sig changes with a tuba solo and guitar chords up the scale. The sig switches again and the lead guitar takes over with some nice riffs and melodies, then the vocals return like a lost spirit. False endings close off the tracks in style.

Byttomfot (4:33) opens with a fanfare of marching drum rolls, tuba and odd vocals. It settles into a cool guitar riff and then more fun vocals. The sig moves to a new meter and the tuba really unleashes its power over crashing guitar chords. It drags on and on with hilarious results and goes into a maddening infectious melody that you may not get out of your head.

Elma (3:22) closes proceedings with a gentler approach. The sound is unique especially with guest artists LAH / Bydgoszcz who plays clarinet, and Kala ukulele bass. It is a dreamscape of soothing sounds and a wash of tranquil tones.

Once again SOT prove music is a multi dimensional beast and the album should please those with a penchant for the unique and different RIO sound they generate. I prefer their previous two releases as they featured longer tracks that explored and defined each track with definitive innovation. This album had a lot of tracks but they were not very long and did not allow for a wider range of inventiveness. If you are desiring something as bizarre as Magma, Gong or The Cardiacs, here is your album "Kogel Mogel".