ASTROMALIST

So, the mad Norwegian are finally back! And let me tell you straight: this one is absolutely their best to date! Having gained a lot of experience and popularity from extensive touring during the years, they have conceived an album that oozes of maturity. From the opening track with its riff in 5/4, you feel and know that it will be a treat! There are plenty of tricky meters (check the fantastic 11 + 10 on track 6!), the instrumentation is very rich and varied, the melodic threads always carry you to fantasy filled dreams and the rhythmic madness makes sure to wake you in time, even using alarm clocks! (track 5, ironically starting in 5/4!! before bringing in plenty of cross rhythms). In the guest list, we'll note the appearance of a familiar name: bassoonist Michel Bercmans, from Univers Zéro fame! Last but not least, the mix and mastering has been done by the talented hands and ears of Udi Koomran, which is a signature in itself and a guarantee that this is gonna sound real good .... and it does! The rare notes to be found on the back pannel of this three-fold digipack say that the music was recorded by the band at various locations, but I'm inclined to believe that it may have been taken from live recordings, to be later processed and worked in the studio; this album sounds so good that you probably wouldn't say it's a live recording if you were asked in a blindfold test. Anyway, this is a true masterpiece, reflecting the maturity and still growing creativity of a band still able of surprising and shaking us for many years to come. Grab a copy and enjoy!

It's been six years since we've had an album from these Norwegiens. I really enjoyed that one("Koralrevens Klagasang") with it's Canterbury flavour and Zappa references. Heck even Richard Sinclair guested on it. This time around we get UNIVERS ZERO's Michel Berckmans guesting on bassoon and english horn while Ketil Vestrum Einarsen (WHITE WILLOW) is back helping out with flute. There are other guests including Udi Koomran who mixed and mastered it while also adding "noises" on "Satam". They are now on the same label (Rune Grammofon) as ELEPHANT9 and in fact these albums were released around the same time.

"Bati La Takton !" is light and breezy with horns and keyboards before it turns fuller before a minute. This is better. It's lighter again this time with intricate sounds before turning fuller again as contrasts continue. "Anomia" is a song I really enjoy because it's melancholic and darker. The guest violin and viola are nice additions as well to the sound here. It's intricate with vibes before 3 minutes before turning fuller again to end it. "Femtende Marsj" is almost KING CRIMSON-like with those prominant angular guitars. This rocks pretty good. Mellotron-like sounds follow then the electric piano and guitar returns as drums pound. A fantastic track ! Check out the atmospheric calm before 2 minutes as we then get some spoken word news clips from the broadcast about the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The music kicks in before 3 1/2 minutes. Hell yeah it does !

"Ugler I Moseboka" features the beautiful flute from our WHITE WILLOW friend along with other mellow sounds. This is a laid back tune that does build until a calm with some tension arrives before 5 minutes. This is good as the guitar and drums come in, then back to the earlier relaxed sound. "Satam" openns with a pulsating sound as drums and heaviness join in. Guitar too as it picks up steam. It settles back after 1 1/2 minutes but then builds again. Another calm before 5 minutes then it builds once again. An excellent track. "Astromalist" is such a feel good track throughout. Very enjoyable with the sax and vibes taking prominant roles. Bassoon around 2 1/2 minutes as the mood turns darker. A calm before 3 1/2 minutes as some angular guitar comes in and that dark mood continues. It builds back up. Great track ! "Knute Pa Traden" is the longest song at over 9 minutes. This is good with the sax standing out with intricate sounds also helping out. The song sort of ebbs and flows the rest of the way.

This is an album i'd highly recommend to fans of adventerous and well played music. There is an avant flavour at times but this is melodic and intricate with a classical flair.

Panzerpappa's Astromalist is a selection of instrumental prog workouts with crystal-clear production bringing out the individual performances nicely. Although Michel Berckmans of Univers Zero guests, we're not plunging into scary or difficult RIO territory of the sort Berckmans' main band explores: instead, this offers a light and breezy tone stuffed with a mixture of complexity and whimsy in an approach which reminds me of Samla Mammas Manna. (Like Samla and early Henry Cow, I also detect a mild Canterbury influence in proceedings.) Guitarist Anders Kristian Krabberød shows a particularly interesting playing style, miles away from anything resembling conventional guitar heroics but at the same time still compelling.