What r u Listening to?
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Metman
Buffalo Bills /Mets/Rangers Fan
lasercd
Man Behind The Curtain
Here's the review I've had published in Fireworks Magazine, Ken.
I do not think it is an album where short samples does it any klind of justice. Indeed, I rarely think that progressive music is well served by samples!
Paul
#Norwegian melodic progressive rock band Morild has joined a burgeoning number of ambitious bands that have released a double CD set (and in their case with nearly 100 minutes of music) as their debut offering! Formed in Trondheim as a quartet in 2007, Morild comprises Odd-Roar Bakken (guitars and keys), John Anders Troset (vocals), Nils Larsen (bass) and Alexander Rodriguez Salgado (drums), but have been joined on this recording by Mari Haug Lund (flute and backing vocals) and Hans Kristoffersen (electric guitar). Their music gives a modern twist to traditional prog rock of the quintessentially English variety that has its roots in the early 1970s.
Opening track on the first CD, and also the first of five (11 minute plus) epics ‘All I Wanted (The Whale Song)’ is a true story about a whale that was stranded along the River Thames, but here seen from the perspective of the whale! It really sets the mood for all that follows and is a truly superb amalgam of Hammond organ, synths, piano (indeed, the various keyboards predominate the sound throughout the album) with sympathetic underpinnings from the rhythm section plus some fine acoustic guitar and flute playing. Lengthy instrumental passages are a feature here, as indeed they are throughout the album, the variety of textures, beautiful melodies and soundscapes – including ones from the occasional electric guitar interventions from Hans Kristoffersen (on ‘When The Night Turns To Morning’, ‘Circus’ and ‘Two Glasses’
- making for a very warm and satisfying listen. ‘When The Night…’ turns out to be a rather melancholic song, and technically but also imperceptibly weaves through a number of different instrumental phases between the two parts of the story. The album’s title track is instrumental and again the progressive structure of the work with its superbly-crafted arrangements is very much in evidence; it’s another triumph, and shows that the band doesn’t have to produce an epic-length number to make a definitive musical statement. ‘Blackbird’s Lullaby’ does what it says on the tin and features simply wonderful acoustic guitar. The harmony male and female vocals work exceptionally well here too. The first disc is closed out by two more of the extended numbers: ‘Circus’ and ‘Early This Morning (Christmas Song)’ and I must resist the temptation to flood this page with gushing praise! Suffice it to say that the former has a harder-edged countenance (uplifted by HK’s lead guitar work) but both demonstrate the quality of the writing partnership of Larsen and Bakken: the latter being especially poignant.
The instrumental ‘Apus Apus’ opens the second disc with especially deft organ and synth passages and then we are back into epic territory with ‘Two Glasses’ – an extremely elaborate number that reminded me of the best of what Gentle Giant had to offer. Finally there comes the three part tour-de-force ‘The Slave Ship’ and this simply stellar opus will have the prog aficionado totally engrossed for nearly half an hour!
There’s absolutely no filler on ‘Time To Rest’. It is an auspicious album and bearing in mind the band is seeking a label deal, I am sure that a savvy prog rock label boss will snap up Morild before too long! If I have a criticism (and it’s only a small one) then it relates to vocalist John Anders Troset. His articulation is occasionally awry and occasionally his delivery sounds a little flat. But the overall perception of this album is of it being one of the great Progressive Rock debuts. A remarkable and stunning album!
I do not think it is an album where short samples does it any klind of justice. Indeed, I rarely think that progressive music is well served by samples!
Paul
#Norwegian melodic progressive rock band Morild has joined a burgeoning number of ambitious bands that have released a double CD set (and in their case with nearly 100 minutes of music) as their debut offering! Formed in Trondheim as a quartet in 2007, Morild comprises Odd-Roar Bakken (guitars and keys), John Anders Troset (vocals), Nils Larsen (bass) and Alexander Rodriguez Salgado (drums), but have been joined on this recording by Mari Haug Lund (flute and backing vocals) and Hans Kristoffersen (electric guitar). Their music gives a modern twist to traditional prog rock of the quintessentially English variety that has its roots in the early 1970s.
Opening track on the first CD, and also the first of five (11 minute plus) epics ‘All I Wanted (The Whale Song)’ is a true story about a whale that was stranded along the River Thames, but here seen from the perspective of the whale! It really sets the mood for all that follows and is a truly superb amalgam of Hammond organ, synths, piano (indeed, the various keyboards predominate the sound throughout the album) with sympathetic underpinnings from the rhythm section plus some fine acoustic guitar and flute playing. Lengthy instrumental passages are a feature here, as indeed they are throughout the album, the variety of textures, beautiful melodies and soundscapes – including ones from the occasional electric guitar interventions from Hans Kristoffersen (on ‘When The Night Turns To Morning’, ‘Circus’ and ‘Two Glasses’
- making for a very warm and satisfying listen. ‘When The Night…’ turns out to be a rather melancholic song, and technically but also imperceptibly weaves through a number of different instrumental phases between the two parts of the story. The album’s title track is instrumental and again the progressive structure of the work with its superbly-crafted arrangements is very much in evidence; it’s another triumph, and shows that the band doesn’t have to produce an epic-length number to make a definitive musical statement. ‘Blackbird’s Lullaby’ does what it says on the tin and features simply wonderful acoustic guitar. The harmony male and female vocals work exceptionally well here too. The first disc is closed out by two more of the extended numbers: ‘Circus’ and ‘Early This Morning (Christmas Song)’ and I must resist the temptation to flood this page with gushing praise! Suffice it to say that the former has a harder-edged countenance (uplifted by HK’s lead guitar work) but both demonstrate the quality of the writing partnership of Larsen and Bakken: the latter being especially poignant.The instrumental ‘Apus Apus’ opens the second disc with especially deft organ and synth passages and then we are back into epic territory with ‘Two Glasses’ – an extremely elaborate number that reminded me of the best of what Gentle Giant had to offer. Finally there comes the three part tour-de-force ‘The Slave Ship’ and this simply stellar opus will have the prog aficionado totally engrossed for nearly half an hour!
There’s absolutely no filler on ‘Time To Rest’. It is an auspicious album and bearing in mind the band is seeking a label deal, I am sure that a savvy prog rock label boss will snap up Morild before too long! If I have a criticism (and it’s only a small one) then it relates to vocalist John Anders Troset. His articulation is occasionally awry and occasionally his delivery sounds a little flat. But the overall perception of this album is of it being one of the great Progressive Rock debuts. A remarkable and stunning album!
lasercd
Man Behind The Curtain
Paul:
Well hopefully some savvy prog rock label boss will snap them up.
I have a question about Fireworks. A couple of years ago I was interviewed for the magazine. Do you know if it ever ran?
Ken
Well hopefully some savvy prog rock label boss will snap them up.
I have a question about Fireworks. A couple of years ago I was interviewed for the magazine. Do you know if it ever ran?
Ken
Rkbluez
Member
Metman
Buffalo Bills /Mets/Rangers Fan
Rkbluez
Member
Yes I like the guitar work of Peter Banks...it's pretty obvious he influenced Steve Howe's guitar sound...though I must admit I'm a late comer to this cool band...for some reason I never gave them a chance until last year...but now I'm loving their dated but cool proggy stuff...the first Flash is the best of the bunch..."Dream Of Heaven" is a killer tune.
lasercd
Man Behind The Curtain
I would tend to doubt this. Steve Howe was getting a lot of attention with Tomorrow and Bodast well before he joined Yes. He was considered to be one of the top guitarists in the UK. When he replaced Peter Banks it was thought of as an upgrade.
Rkbluez
Member
Thanks for the history lesson Ken
...as I said I really wasn't listening to much stuff before 1970...and I do love the first 3 Howe Yes albums which are mega classic's...that being said I still like Banks style and all the Flash albums but think they could of been even better with a singer of Anderson's quality...but admittedly YES was much better with the addition of Howe.
...as I said I really wasn't listening to much stuff before 1970...and I do love the first 3 Howe Yes albums which are mega classic's...that being said I still like Banks style and all the Flash albums but think they could of been even better with a singer of Anderson's quality...but admittedly YES was much better with the addition of Howe.Ken: re Fireworks - yes, it ran, and a copy was sent to you as is always the case with the label supremo who is featured in the interview.
Did ye not receive it??
Paul
Did ye not receive it??
Paul
lasercd
Man Behind The Curtain
Silly me!!
Better check your e-mail now, Ken!
[I've sent Ken a .pdf dile of the entire magazine. If any forum member here would like to see the feature about The Laser's Edge (from 2009) I will happily e-mail the file of the complete 100 page mag to you too. Just send me an e-mail to request. I will send in a week's time as a group e-mail with everyone bcc'd. The magazine in question (#37) is not the proggiest, but I would hope might interest a few of you to want to consider a subscription...
end of shameless marketing!! ]
Paul
Better check your e-mail now, Ken!
[I've sent Ken a .pdf dile of the entire magazine. If any forum member here would like to see the feature about The Laser's Edge (from 2009) I will happily e-mail the file of the complete 100 page mag to you too. Just send me an e-mail to request. I will send in a week's time as a group e-mail with everyone bcc'd. The magazine in question (#37) is not the proggiest, but I would hope might interest a few of you to want to consider a subscription...
end of shameless marketing!! ]
Paul
Rkbluez
Member
DeepestPurple
Member
- Jul 9, 2004
- 591
- 0
- 16
Great catchy album, it's good to hear the Gilbert lineup with more modern production.
Today:
Peter Gabriel - Up
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
DJ's Locker
Member
- Jul 10, 2009
- 394
- 0
- 16
Spirit of the Forest - A Brew of Lightning and Terror
Magic Pie - The Suffering Joy
:Smokin:
Pandora - Empre......
Falconer - Northwind
Magic Pie - The Suffering Joy
:Smokin: Pandora - Empre......
Falconer - Northwind
Rkbluez
Member
Evergrey - Glorious Collision
Sanctuary - Into The Mirror Live - Dark Reflections
Celtic Frost - Into The Pandemonium
Sacrum - Days Of Quarantine
Shaolin Death Squad - Five Deadly Venoms
Tomorrow's Eve - The Unexpected World
Voivod - Angel Rat
Sanctuary - Into The Mirror Live - Dark Reflections
Celtic Frost - Into The Pandemonium
Sacrum - Days Of Quarantine
Shaolin Death Squad - Five Deadly Venoms
Tomorrow's Eve - The Unexpected World
Voivod - Angel Rat
