HINTERLAND

Norwegians know how to play prog! This enjoyable album is upbeat and soothing with lots of nice twists and turns. Hinterland, though very weak in the vocal department, provides some wonderful new sounds in the classic progressive vein.

Serenade for 1652 (55/100 * 41= 22.55) Okay...this is a waste of time, in my opinion. Not only do I need to brush up on my history (to understand the significance of 1652), but perhaps I need to take a class in art appreciation to figure out what Wobbler is hoping to accomplish with this short prelude which in no way resembles any of the other music on the album nor creates any sort of atmosphere. So as the album begins, I must admit that I'm scratching my head at the inclusion of this number.

Hinterland (86/100 * 1667 = 1433.62) Ah...now this is what I want to hear. The title track offers just about a bit of everything, with nice rhythm changes, wonderful flutes and horns, noticeable bass line and even some vocals (which don't sound too bad). This reminds me a bit of Anglagard and Camel, both of whom I like the sounds of very much. This 27-minute treat is full of atmosphere creating almost a sensation of "easy-listening" prog. Of course, ears not used to the crazy time signatures of classical progressive music will find this disjointed and bouncy. But I find that it actually creates a peaceful mood much to my liking.

Rubato Industry (89/100 * 765 = 680.85) This third track is my favorite on the album as it incorporates a lot of nice elements, especially vocals. There are actually understandable lyrics during the first half of this song which is nice to hear. And then the music builds during the second half with some nicely layered vocal harmonies joining in for a wonderfully rich sound very reminiscent of Gentle Giant's song, Three Friends. In my opinion, this is the best track on the album.

Clair Obscur (83/100 * 937 = 777.71) The fourth and final track is a bit indistinguishable as it sounds very similar to the previous track, Rubato Industry. This is entirely instrumental with lots of keyboards highlighted by a great-sounding bass played with some punch.

Overall Score: 2914.73/3410 = 85%

Grading Score for ProgArchives:

5 stars: 92 - 100%

4 stars: 84 - 91%

3 stars: 72 - 83%

2 stars: 58 - 71%

1 star: 57% or less