RISET BAK SPEILET

It must be the time of year for prog folk releases, as Tusmorke (meaning "twilight") and Ian Anderson have both released new albums recently. If I have to be honest, though, I much prefer this new album from Tusmorke, "Riset Bak Speilet". These Norwegians have some inspired passages to share with us, even if it's done in a not-so-perfect fashion.

A very "full" sounding prog folk music, Tusmorke combine the standard organ and flute with other prog rock instruments to make a lusher soundscape. The music is rather dark at times, though never suffocating. More than anything, the music just meanders along pleasantly while taking some downward dips here and there. I rather like the use of the flute to keep a constant flow of melody, rather than just use it to play solos, like some other artists. Tusmorke likes to build a foundation of flute from which they can add more touches of other instruments to create an overall eeriness or beauty, whatever they desire.

The first and last songs are sung in Norwegian, I believe. The rest are mostly sung in English. I appreciated that, as an English speaker. The vocals are basically constant harmonization between two singers, and they perform very well. I honestly feel that their tone is perfect and wonderfully smooth. It adds a great touch to the already full feeling of the album.

"Riset Bak Speilet" features five great tracks, though I honestly do connect more with the English-sung ones. I especially love the deliciously eerie "Black Swift", as it's chorus is fantastically harmonized and the rest of the song is so delicately black and haunting. It also includes the best instrumental passage of the album. "Gamle Aker Kirke" is a wonderful, more upbeat track that I appreciate for its vocals, especially. "All is Lost" is also a flute- laden journey into darkness and momentum. I rather like its nuances and its atmosphere, as well as some well-timed signature changes therein.

Overall, Tusmorke have composed a wonderful album that will appeal to any fan of prog folk music. The middle three tracks are specifically good and more structured, regardless of the language differences. There is a certain maturity at work in this band's music, and a hypnosis that they try to engage, and succeed many times in creating. This is certainly an album worth hearing this year.

3.5 stars

Riset Bak Speilet is the second album by this Norwegian band. Keyboardist Deadly Nightshade had departed, in comes Marxo Solinas who is none other than Lars Fredrik Frøisle, who already appeared as a guest on their previous album, now a full-time member. In my opinion, this followup LP just doesn't reach the greatness of Underjordisk Tusmørke. "Black Swift" and "All is Lost" tend to be repetitive and I don't find them particularly engaging, this would have made a hellva better disc if those two songs were replaced by the bonus cuts. But the other three on the LP is much better. "Offerpresten" is a wonderful, a bit like how Jethro Tull might end up like had they been Nordic. There's also an amusing quote from Black Widow's "Come to the Sabbat". "Gamle Aker Kirke" is another great piece, more mellow, almost like a Nordic Moody Blues. Lars Fredrik Frøisle providing some nice Mellotron and Chamberlin. Then the lengthiest piece, which is the title track where they go full-on progressive rock, showing this band can still make great music even at this length. So this is a case of two brilliant numbers, two mediocre numbers, and another brilliant closer. As for the bonus cuts (available on the CD version, or you can download them when you buy the LP), they rival the LP itself. "Kairo" unsurprisingly has a Middle Eastern feel to it. "Mener Vi Alvor Nå?" is a very strongly medievel piece, in fact you might think this actually dates from the Middle Ages. I love this piece. Then out of nowhere Lars provides some strange synths. Then there's "En Verden Av i Går" is another great proggy piece that I wished was included on the LP proper than "Black Swift". If that was included on the LP, my rating would be higher. Worth owning for the brilliant material present, but also includes some mediocre stuff.