Jord by Jordsjo, from 2017
One of the first albums, the first to reach levels of excellence in my opinion, from the Norwegian duo, who express themselves in a symphonic rock style typical of the mountains and Scandinavian atmospheres, with a pastoral and orchestral feel, a superb example of Northern Prog.
An absolutely exquisite 37 minutes, spanning seven tracks, bring the '70s into the sounds of today and amaze us with Norwegian-language vocals that seem to have always been heard in this sound, with this emphasis on acoustic guitars, strings, wind instruments, and vintage keyboards.
This isn't my case, but I'm convinced that Scandinavian bands, especially this one, don't get the attention they deserve. Their work is always intense and full of a strange kind of innovation in a genre that boasts over fifty years of magnificent existence, and thanks to these young people from the North, it is destined, I'm sure, to have a long life.
- Over Vidda, flute and percussion, a brief pastoral intro that introduces the album.
- Abstraksjoner Fra Et Dunkelt Kammer, an epic song that starts melodically and then, when the vocals come in, they build to create a wall of sound with synths taking center stage, beautiful guitar parts, and great drums. Beautiful.
- Finske Skoge is an epic song reminiscent of early '70s British symphonic rock, with beautiful guitar licks and a spectacular rhythm section.
- Jord I is impressive with its changes in theme and tempo, fantastic Mellotron, and a voice that is a fairytale narrator. Beautiful!
- Jord II is clearly the sequel to the previous one, but it has its own distinct identity, a song in which the musicians indulge in virtuosity, beautiful.
- La Meg Forsvinne! is a less demanding song but with a truly fitting melodic theme and spectacular guitar, but the same must be said for the synths. Captivating and engaging, it demands to be listened to again. The bass is frightening when the song gets much more prog-oriented. A song with two sides: the melodic side that highlights the composition, the complex side that highlights the technique. A top piece. You won't finish the album without listening to this track several times.
- Postludium begins with a tense synth and keyboard solo that creates an almost psychedelic atmosphere with a mood rich in electronic vibrations for the first three minutes and a more solemn and epic one for the following. The melodies are magnificent, and as they unfold, you want them to continue to see where they end.
Two young men, Håkon Oftung and Kristian Frøland, create songs of great complexity and exquisite composition, but above all, a meticulous performance, attentive to every detail. Robert Dall Frøseth's bass is remarkable on this album, as a guest.
An album I can only recommend to all lovers of great music, in this case contemporary music.
Beautiful!
Tracklist
1. Over Vidda (1:48)
2. Abstraksjoner Fra Et Dunkelt Kammer (6:50)
3. Finske Skoger (2:56)
4. Jord I (6:25)
5. Jord II (8:27)
6. La Meg Forsvinne! (6:38)
7. Postludium (4:42)
Running Time 37:46
Line-Up
- Håkon Oftung - vocals, guitar, keyboards, flute
- Kristian Frøland - drums and percussion
Featuring:
- Robert Dall Frøseth - bass (3)
