Salighet by Jordsjo

Salighet by Jordsjo, an excellent album from 2023

This album is beautiful in every way, starting with the cover, and in my opinion, it's also the band's best musically. It even rivals what I consider a masterpiece, Nattfiolen.

An album of masterfully performed compositions that requires multiple listens to appreciate all its nuances.

The artwork is beautiful in every way.

The duo continues to amaze.

Hakon Oftung is a multi-instrumentalist who deserves much greater recognition. He's incredibly talented, and on this album he's particularly inspired by the guitar, and in his keyboard work, with the Fender Rhodes, organ, clavinet, and mellotron, he dominates the scene with the flute.
Kristian Froland is always solid and concrete with his well-calibrated rhythmic foundations, and the guests on clarinet, synthesizers, and backing vocals continue to enrich an already consolidated sound on this album.

The compositional and performance quality is extremely high on all the tracks.

"Invokasjon" is very complex and difficult to perform, virtuoso but without excess. Bran is very captivating.
"Sankeren" has medieval folk accents and beautiful instrumental performances. A slow pace with beautiful guitar both in the solos and the accompanying notes and a voice that creates an "ancient" atmosphere. The sound suddenly changes and becomes more decisive and disturbing rock, with a remarkable keyboard part and then a flute solo over a drum base. The wind instruments and keyboards in the final section are beautiful. An exciting song that closes after a smooth jazz phase on a very well-executed guitar art with "raw" sounds.
Salighet I, with its exceptional folk style opening with acoustic guitar and flute, is joined by the electric guitar, becoming an almost psychedelic piece, especially when the organ provides a very effective foundation. The interplay of voices and choirs, which are an additional instrument here, is beautiful. The wind instruments and percussion then enter. The atmospheres and variations are beautiful. My favorite piece.
Saliget II, with a mood that tends towards Kosmische Musik (Krautrock), beautiful folk melodies opening with almost dissonant sounds, almost ambient moments, double electric guitar interplay, successive tempo variations, and particularly inspired drumming, a complex piece with excellent composition. This one, too, is truly excellent.
Ura starts psychedelic and melancholic and converges into an acoustic folk song reminiscent of '70s Tull. Very beautiful.
"Danseritualer fra Jordsjø - Prosesjon & Ekstase" also begins with a typical '70s folk-rock mood: Hammond, a blues-rock base, guitars, flutes, and a beautiful guitar solo. A beautiful song.
"Stjernestigen" is the longest song on the album, clocking in at about 10 minutes, and also the most complex. It offers folk, organ, bass, and drum bases with synth solos, beautiful vocals, and the chorus, with a double-guitar passage in the instrumental part. There's also a great piano solo, with a melody replicated by the electric guitar—a beautiful passage. It ends with just the piano. A fantastic piece.

I love this band; you've already heard me talk about them at length. I'm convinced they're among the finest representatives of modern prog, which for years has predominantly come from Scandinavia—Northern Prog.

If, like me, you're a fan of prog in its folk and symphonic forms, this is definitely a must-have album for your collection.

The Tracks

1. Invokasjon (2:52)

2. Sankeren (7:22)

3. Salighet I (6:17)

4. Salighet II (6:10)

5. Ura (6:39)

6. Danseritualer fra Jordsjø - Prosesjon & Ekstase (2:55)

7. Stjernestigen (10:21)

Duration 42:36

Line-Up

- Håkon Oftung - vocals, guitars, flute, keyboards

- Kristian Frøland - drums and percussion