Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Isildurs Bane - Sagan Om Den Irländska Älgen CD (album) cover

SAGAN OM DEN IRLÄNDSKA ÄLGEN

Isildurs Bane

 

Symphonic Prog

3.71 | 43 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Cesar Inca
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars "Saga Om Den Irlåndska Ålgen" is the second Isilrus Bane release and the first one on vinyl format, since "Saga Om Ringen" only benefited from a cassette release in its first 1981 edition. What do we find in this second "Saga" album? - mostly, a continuation of the crystal clear melodic symphonic sort of prog alternated with pastoral pieces that had been created in the debut release, but now with a stronger, fuller sound. This is in no small degree due to the increased use of keyboard interventions, which in turn is a natural result of the augmented writing inputs by Mats Johansson. The beautiful opener 'Overtyr' starts with a solemn (if too brief) ethereal intro that immediately gives way to the main body, a lovely, playful amalgam of Camel's melodic drive and Atlas' dynamics, plus some GG-related adornments. Nilsson's agile phrases and the tight deliveries by the rhythm duo are the most featured assets in the track's development. 'Saga Eller Verklinger' is a bucolic serenade, at first revolving around the duo of acoustic guitar and flute, a-la Anthony Phillips-meets-Mike Oldfield. A latter development provides a folkish air that brings a focus to the basic motif. 'Ove P.' states a return to the symphonic realms, very much like a solo Wakeman supported by a combo of Camel and Craft musicians. 'Sex Minuter' brings a compromise between melodic jazz-prog (a-la Maneige) and candid symphonic prog, partially anticipating one third of the sort of material to be generated for the following two efforts. 'En Vilja Art Leva' brings back the bucolic trend that guitarist Nilsson is so fond of writing: there is a minstrel quality to this composition's first half, combining the standard of folk-pop and Renaissance textures; the second half brings a slow mood for a delicately jazzed up symphonic development. The track's finale is cleverly segued into 'Evighetens Visdom', which sort of recapitulates moods and atmospheres from tracks 3 & 4. 'marlboro Blues' is not literally a blues track, but an exercise on melodic jazz that sets a middle ground between Spyro Gyra and early 80s Weather Report. This is the sort of stuff that IB was really headlong for in their third and fourth releases, just around the corner, so to speak. The featured presence of guest saxophonist Bengst Johansson proves quite relevant for the track's overall mood. A special mention goes to Mats' synth solo: perhaps too brief, but possibly his best one in the album. The closer 'Fredrik' is also quite jazzy, but the slow tempo allows the band to explore some warm atmospheres through which the symphonic element can still play a noticeable role. At his point of Isildurs Bane's history, the band is yet to become the major art-rock force that it is since the "Voyage" days (anticipated in "Cheval"), and still there is an age of jazz- oriented paths to be pursued in the grand scheme of things, but "Saga Om Den Irlåndska Ålgen" is a solid symphonic prog release. 3.60 stars for this one.
Cesar Inca | 4/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this ISILDURS BANE review

Social review comments () BETA







Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.