FIRE FORTELLINGER

For years I often wondered what it would be like if Lars Fredrik Frøislie would record a solo album. I didn't think he had much motive to do such because of his busy schedule with the numerous bands and guest appearances he made. Then comes the pandemic which naturally would slow down the already slow process of making a new Wobbler album. So that gave him the time to cut a solo album, and Fire Fortellinger is the results. What's unbelievable is, aside from bass, everything you hear is by Lars, including drums and vocals. No guitar but as proven with many prog rock acts since the beginning (including 80% of ELP's output, aside from the acoustic Greg Lake ballads or when Lake adds on electric guitar) is they do just fine with keyboards and no guitars. So of course that won't be a problem with Fire Fortellinger. His vocals remind me of Benedikt Momrak of Tusmørke rather than Andreas Prestmo of Wobbler. How's the music? Elements of Wobbler do show up, even a bit of Tusmørke and Jordsjø but pretty much it's his own thing. "Rytter av Dommedag" is an incredible opening piece, full of great vintage keyboards including Hammond organ and Mellotron. He also includes a Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, something I never heard him use before. The second part is full of those "Ah" choruses that get me. thinking of Tusmørke. "Et Sted Himmelhvelvet" is more calm most reminding me of Jordsjø. The flutes are of the Chamberlin M1 variety rather than standard Mellotron. "Naturens Katedral" is a bit in King Crimson territory, that is if the band was completely keyboard-dominated, particularly during the more dirge-like passages. Again more great use of keyboards. Now this will be a polarizing piece because it's the least accessible piece on the album (I don't blame anyone if they felt this piece loses focus or is a bit disjointed) but I am blown away and I love how the album ends. I guess the biggest problem some may have is it's not as melodic as much of the rest of the album, but is a bit more experimental. I really do love that muted harpsichord spinet passage that attempts to sound like an acoustic guitar. Oh yeah, the vocals are all in Norwegian, something normal in most of the Tusmørke albums but totally unheard of in Wobbler. The keyboards are all authentic vintage. This album left me blown away. I can see "Naturens Katedral" being controversial but even I love that one. This is certainly one of the finest prog releases of 2023!