Fjernsyn i Farver by Tusmørke

On this site you can find various in-depth pieces, including a full profile that retraces the band’s story, from the origins in the mid ’90s (when they were known as Les Fleurs du Mal) up to the current line-up led by the Momrak brothers, but also the review of "Balderdom" (2026), the most recent album, an excellent record of great melodic beauty and technical complexity with the suite Lidskjalv as the peak of the work. You’ll also find the review of "Dawn of Oberon" (2024), a psychedelic, fairy-tale concept album that tells of a journey into the underground realm of Oberon, the king of the fairies (a theme also mentioned recently in the review of the album Octoberon by Barclay James Harvest).

"Fjernsyn i Farver" (which translated means "Colour Television"), is their sixth studio work.

The album line-up is made up of musicians involved in other leading projects in the Norwegian prog scene (such as Wobbler and Jordsjø, which I follow a lot here on the blog).

The main members are:

Benediktator (Benedikt Momrak): Vocals, bass, percussion and glockenspiel.

Krizla (Kristoffer Momrak): Vocals, flute, electronics and percussion.

HlewagastiR (Martin Nordrum Kneppen): Drums and percussion.

The Phenomenon Marxo Solinas (Lars Fredrik Frøislie): An arsenal of vintage keyboards, including Mellotron, Hammond organ, Mini Moog, harpsichord, grand piano and Wurlitzer.

On this album the band deliberately chose not to use guitars, entrusting the melodic and harmonic texture entirely to synths, organs and flute.

Morten Øby plays as a guest on congas on various tracks.

The album is based on a philosophical and sci-fi idea that investigates the relationship between light, time and perception.  The main concept is that the light reflected by objects (and therefore by historical events) keeps travelling endlessly through space. The band hypothesizes that, if we could travel faster than light and overtake these “reflected beams”, we could watch Earth’s history projected into space as if on a television. Tusmørke ponder the paradox whereby light is invisible until it meets matter. Without objects to reflect it, the universe would be a black void. The title “Colour Television” (translation of Fjernsyn i Farver) therefore represents our reality: a set of colours and shapes that exist only because light “bounces” off things, making the world visible. If the previous record (Hinsides) focused on death and the realm of shadows, this is the album of Light and Space, meant both as deep space and as the mind’s psychedelic space. Despite the cosmic themes, the bond with Norwegian nature remains strong, suggesting that the mystery of the cosmos is present also in everyday life and in local roots.

Fjernsyn i Farver is a psychedelic folk-prog record that stands out for its deliberately vintage sound, evoking the early ’70s.  As said, the music is built entirely on period synths and flute, creating a dense, “pastoral” sonic weave, far from modern, distorted progressive rock.  The album alternates bright, fairy-tale moments, typical of Norwegian folk, with more unsettling, almost “acid-folk” passages, mirroring the concept’s cosmic and mysterious themes. The rhythm section is very lively, with tracks that incorporate almost funky and tribal elements, thanks to the heavy use of percussion and congas, which blend with structures typical of symphonic prog. The singing in Norwegian gives the record a theatrical, local atmosphere, recalling minstrel traditions, but reinterpreted in a psychedelic key.

“Fjernsyn I Farver” (Colour Television) A lively, rhythmic opener, starting with a pulsing bass and trilling flutes, then flowing into a ghostly, acid-folk ending.  Benediktator’s bass stands out for its near-funk groove, while Krizla adds a psychedelic shade with the flute.

“Kniven I Kurven” (The Knife in the Basket) is a piece with a traditional Nordic folk flavour with a tougher, sharper edge. The atmosphere is evocative, with choirs that suggest rites. The Phenomenon Marxo Solinas takes the spotlight on piano and fuzzed organ, while guest Morten Øby enriches the track with congas.

“Borgerlig Tussmørke” (Civil Twilight) is a slow, captivating ballad, the album’s most accessible track. It begins deep and mysterious and then culminates in a triumphant organ crescendo. Great work by The Phenomenon Marxo Solinas on organ and Mellotron, guiding the entire melodic development of the piece.

“3001” is the most experimental and complex track. It opens with sci-fi effects and electronic beeps, evolving into a heavy cybernetic chaos dominated by distortion. Krizla handles the initial electronic part, while Benediktator’s distorted bass and Solinas’ Moog create a dark sonic complexity.

“Death Czar” is the only track in English. It combines tribal rhythms (almost samba/funky) with the band’s typical folk-prog. It’s a dark piece yet rich in psychedelia. HlewagastiR on drums and Morten Øby on congas create a rhythm section unique for the genre, while the Momrak brothers’ alternating vocals carry the dark theme forward.

“Tøyens Hemmelighet” (The Secret Of Tøyen) is the 9-minute closing suite, a dreamlike track that evokes forest spirits and local legends, with an ending marked by distant echoes and instrumental grace. Krizla on flute and Benediktator on glockenspiel create the fairy-tale atmosphere, supported by a melodic, steady bass.

A mix of pastoral prog (in the vein of Jethro Tull or early Genesis) and the primitive electronics of the Germans (Krautrock).  The absence of guitars is offset by layered keyboard arrangements and an ever-present flute. A truly great album.

My Version

Label: Karisma Records – KAR142LP
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Norway
Released: 2018

Tracklist

1. Fjernsyn i farver (8:05)
2. Kniven i kurven (8:09)
3. Borgerlig tussmørke (3:51)
4. 3001 (8:38)
5. Death Czar (6:15)
6. Tøyens hemmelighet (8:55)
Duration 43:53

LineUp

- Benedikt Momrak "Benediktator" - vocals, bass, percussion, glockenspiel
- Lars Fredrik Frøislie - grand piano, Mellotron, Wurlitzer, harpsichord, clavinet, Hammond organ, Minimoog, Solina, Korg CX-3
- Kristoffer Momrak "Krizla" - vocals, flute, electronics, percussion
- Martin Nordrum Kneppen "Hlewagastir" - drums, percussion

With:
- Morten Øby - congas (2,5,6)

Listening links on the main streaming platforms at the following links:

Streaming Platforms:

YouTube Music – Available for free listening.

Spotify – Full album with 6 tracks.

Apple Music – Available by subscription.

Purchase and Direct Support:

Bandcamp – Here you can listen to the tracks and buy the album in digital, vinyl, or CD format to directly support the ban

Note: All links to the musicians’ works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists"