Kontraster by Jordsjo & Breidablik

This album is incredibly interesting! Indeed, it's a rare record these days!
Kontraster by Jordsjø & Breidablik, released in 2025 by two bands: Jordsjø, an Oslo band active since 2014, which helps keep symphonic rock alive by combining different genres in a new form; and Breidablik, another Norwegian band active since 2012. Influenced by the Berlin School and ambient music, they replace the drum machine with a drummer on this album. Kontraster is Jordsjø's second album with Breidablik, following 2016's Songs from the Northern Wasteland.

This album contains two tracks lasting approximately twenty minutes, in the perfect tradition of Prog suites. The attributions to the two bands are clearly visible from the labels on both sides of the vinyl (as shown in the photo). As one might easily deduce, Kontraster in Norwegian means "Contrasts," a term that particularly fits the album.

- The first side is Jorsdjø's. Beautiful old-school progressive rock, vintage keyboards, and a beautiful Norwegian vocal that perfectly suits this genre and gives it an archaic, mysterious, epic, and very believable tone. The flute, keyboards, and percussion are superb, as is the guitar with beautiful solos. The song is not without illustrious references, especially the Genesis-esque keyboards. A sound that shifts rhythm and atmosphere several times. This is the longest piece by this band to date, and for the first time they've attempted a true suite, admirably, I must say.

- The Breidablik side is the one that amazed me from the start with the quality and beauty of the sounds, dominated by electronics—and what electronics! We're talking ambient music bordering on space rock. Alan Parson-esque sounds and rhythms with a haunting tone, an excellent sequencer, and, I must say, excellent drum parts. The guitar is excellent, its jangly sound over the synth and sequencer loops.

Before listening, I wondered whether I'd find the same piece reinterpreted on both sides, or the same concept expressed with two different sounds and sensibilities. I would have appreciated both options, both make sense. After listening, I realized we're talking about the second option. The song isn't the same, but the emotions are. Truly, very, very interesting.

From an interview with Jordsjø founder Håkon Oftung, "This album feels like the perfect way to honor our origins and the pioneers who shaped the sound we love... It's a celebration of contrasts, of the different ways progressive rock can express itself while remaining true to its roots."

Breidablik, along the same lines, describe the album as "a testament to the unity found in the contrasting influences and styles that make progressive music so endlessly fascinating."

Kontraster highlights the many facets of progressive rock, a genre much loved but almost ignored by the mainstream. It doesn't mitigate its differences, but rather emphasizes them. The contrast is spontaneous and beautiful, both conceptually and musically.

A beautiful album, which confirms Jordsjø as masters of prog and Breidablik as masters of electronic music. It also shows us once again, if there were any need, that while music is a universal language, it contains within it different dialects, or actual languages, and cultures, all equally effective in expressing the same emotions, ideas, concepts, and positions.

Ladies and gentlemen, in 2025, there are musicians growing in progressive rock, and they do so with great commitment and mastery.

Recommended for those curious about this type of experimentation, an album that I'll definitely include on my list of this year's most interesting albums.

The Tracks
1. Jordsj - Kontraster (19:51)
2. Breidablik - Kontraster (8.14pm)
Duration 40:05

Line-Up
- Hakon Oftung - vocals, guitars, flute, keyboards
- Kristian Frland - drums and percussion
Breidablik:
- Hakon Oftung - guitars, flute
- Morten Birkeland Nielsen - synthesizers
- Trond Gjellum - drums