LOST & FOUND

Many newcomers are inspired by their musical heroes, when cutting the very first album. And 35 TAPES is yet another unit confirming this principle. That being said, their CD 'Lost & Found' sounds like a refined blend rather than a blatant copy. This Norwegian group is made up of: Morten Lund (electric and acoustic guitars, lapsteel, sitar, keyboards, vocals, Mellotron M 400), Jarle Wangen (bass, electric and acoustic guitars, vocals), and Bjorn Stokkeland (drums). In April 2019, the core members - assisted by guest percussionist Andreas Eriksen - unveil a solid record featuring admirable soundscapes in abundance. From the structural point of view, the material gives us a throwback to the golden age of prog-rock, though it's written in a present tense. This debut offer is composed by four songs which make a total time of 43 minutes. Please, never mind its duration - just value the high quality of a teamwork that's featuring immaculate musicianship combined with heartfelt vocals. The opener 'Travel', starts off with a tremendous guitar soloing that resembles Nick Barrett (Pendragon). To illuminate things further, the band use two basic influences then. Particularly. A short intro gently fades out into the enticing beauty of trademark Camel style, where emotive singing starts to roam. Morten Lund has a fine voice, and can get additional marks for that. Meanwhile, the musical themes continue to change, whilst keeping a grand appeal. After one and a half minutes, the vibe of this piece evolves into the trademark Genesis signature. Accents are absolutely obvious, evoking memories of 'A Trick of The Tail' era. As the song moves along, it continues to sport perfectly-crafted pairing of Genesis and Camel. Both lhe lead vocals and harmonies are impeccable, therefore I like the swapping lines between Morten Lund and Jarle Wangen too. As a whole, it's a fabulous beginning of the album. The next plot titled 'Circles' unveils quite original combination of George Harrison and Camel. Actually, this approach works well since it allows the soft contrast in the music to give some changes. The song progresses at a sedate pace, well suited for the sliding guitar performance. Here, the special atmosphere is build up. The voices of Jarle Wangen and Morten Lund revolve around each other. And as before, the interaction of all instruments and singing provides the completeness. The following 'Wasteland' is certain to attract with its well placed changeovers. While Yes would be a good point of reference, Spock's Beard is another comparison. Noteworthy are excellent instrumental meanderings complemented by sensitive vocals. I also noticed some jazzy snippets and quirky sound effects. Possessing a whimsical construction, the epic track 'Mushrooms' lasts more than 19 minutes with lots of excitement going on. Though I can't pinpoint all the influences, but The Fab Four, Genesis, Pink Floyd, John Lennon, IQ and Marillion (to name a few) should be there. The fact that two different members contribute vocals and harmonies, give this song an extra sense of diversity which helps to keep it interesting over the long haul. To conclude: 35 TAPES have done a great job, and their CD 'Lost & Found' offers a lot for a listener to digest and enjoy. RECOMMENDED!

It might seem strange any band would name themselves 35 Tapes until you realize that's the amount of tapes inside a Mellotron M400. Since these guys indeed use Mellotron and plenty of it that they're named 35 Tapes. These guys advertise that they're not for virtuoso showmanship and instead go for a nice blend of symphonic prog that emphasizes the melodic side of it. Guitars from Morten Lund and Jarle Wangen that reminds me of Andy Latimer for electric leads and of Anthony Phillips during the more acoustic pastoral moments. Morten Lund provides also tons of analog keyboard like various synths and of course Mellotron. Bjørn Stokkeland provides drums and right away your notice he isn't trying to show off. I though another Norwegian band Jordsjø seemed pretty modest but 35 Tapes more so. Despite all those there are only four cuts, one that takes up side two and none of this overstays their welcome as the music is full of emotion and inspired playing. Really well worth your time.