GAMLE MESTER

Prog Rock Canuck (Canadian) Review Lars Fredrik Frøislie album Gamle Mester

The much anticipated follow up to Lar's last album, Fire Fortellinger has finally arrived and it starts off with a bang. An instrumental opener, Demring, that has all the elements of classic 70s prog but with a overall sound that is unique to the composer. In other words, you can hear other influences from the keyboard greats of yesteryear, think Emerson, Wakeman but still distinctively Lar's in the end. It starts off light with the organ, gets heavy and ends light with piano. Plus several twists and turns along the way in this short track. It sets the stage for where the rest of this album is going. A great introduction to this composer's music for anyone new.

The second track is heavy right out of the gate. And the first longer track of the album, its called Jakten Pa Kalydonske Villsvin. Also the first track to have vocals and what a pleasant surprise, the vocals sound so much more confident here than on the previous album. Also fits in better in the overall mix. Many of the instrumental sections in the first two thirds of this track harkens back to an ELP like sound but the last third of the track is my favorite. Much slower and atmospheric. Featuring some beautiful flute work over repeated piano lines.

Next we have the Title track. I must say that this instrumental piece, Gamle Mester could have been the opener and swapped places with Demring. Either track would make a great introduction to this composer's music. Very accessible. I played it for a 'non prog rock fan' and she really enjoyed it. All the elements of traditonal prog are here, odd time signatures (7/8 for the win!) and time shifts along the way with punchy drums and Ricky bass, and of course, Lar's multi layered keyboard tracks.

The fourth track, Medusa Flate really hits hard at the start (think ELP/Anglagard) but by the time we get in to the sung verses it surprisingly shifts into a YES like, prog popper. I actually felt like dancing. Half way through we''re back to heavy again and closer to ELP, (Think Trilogy album).

The fifth track, De Tre Gratier is the longest track on the album, and most interesting, start to finish. It opens soft with harpsichord and perhaps electric piano (not sure). Very beautiful start. Next we get heavy and although this sounds like pure Lars, I also hear an underlining framework of something that Yes might have produced. Then we are back to the beautiful harpsichord, and at this point I must beg Mr. Froislie to produce a future album of Harpsichord music. His playing of this instrument is exquisite. We also hear some lovely organ and mellotron through this section. Speaking of the mellotron, this album is certainly for lovers of this instrument. The final instrumental moments is a mixed bag, full of multiple instrument switching as to which is the lead instrument until the piece is over. There's also a slight Jethro Tull sound in spots. Like I mentioned at the beginning of talking about this piece, it truly is the most interesting on the whole album and will be great for repeat listens.

The final track and we're back to a full instrumental. Skumring starts off real soft with very atmospheric piano. It picks up a bit in the middle but never really gets heavy. It's a nice gentle way to close the album. It also leaves you with the urging to start from the beginning again.

Gamle Mester is truly an almost perfect album. I'm really tempted to give it 5/5. And I am delighted to see that in just a couple of days since its official release, it has already topped the Prog Archives chart for 2025. Congrats Lars, you knocked this one out of the park (baseball reference, home run).

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to ProgRockCanuck
• Report this review (#3187381)
• Buy LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE music online with PA partners
• Show all LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE MP3/Stream
• Go to LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Gamle Mester page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for LARS FREDRIK FRØISLIE related discussions