Norwegian Prog Rockers JORDSJØ are back with “Nattfiolen”, an album filled with acoustic guitars, flutes, tape echo, analogue synths and Hammond organ. Warm and dreamy, “Nattfiolen” reflects the band’s longing for a simpler life close to nature, and an imaginary past where life is centered around music.
And today Karisma Records have released a single from the album that perfectly illustrates the folk-inspired Symphonic Prog, one could almost say Forest Prog, that typifies JORDSJØ’s musical output. The single, for the track “Stifinner” can be streamed or downloaded at https://orcd.co/stifinner
Led by multi-instrumentalist Håkon Oftung (ex-Tusmørke), JORDSJØ was formed in Oslo in 2014, and is a band that draws its inspiration from old horror movies, German 70s Synth music, Swedish Prog, fantasy novels and Norwegian nature. So much so, in fact, that when, just over a year ago, JORDSJØ first spoke about “Nattfiolen”, they referred to it as “a kind of Intermezzo that will explore more deeply the mysticism that surrounds the forest”.
“Nattfiolen” is the follow-up to 2018’s critically acclaimed debut “Jord”. Recorded and mixed in JORDSJØ’s own studio, “Nattfiolen” is mastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo (White Willow, The Opium Cartel, etc.) at the Dude Ranch Studio.
With cover art by Sindre Foss Skancke and band photos by Anne-Marie Forker.
Track listing for “Nattfiolen” is as follows:
01. Ouverture 02. Stifinner 03. Solens Sirkulære Sang 04. Septemberbål 05. Mine Templer II 06. Til Våren 07. Ulvenatt
With its May 3 release date a little under a month away, Karisma Records have released a second single from BJORN RIIS’ upcoming third full-length album “A Storm Is Coming”.
According to Riis, “Stormwatch” did not start out as it ended up:
“Stormwatch” originated as a completely different song but after countless rewrites, it turned into a 15 minute piece that in many ways sums up the theme of the new album, “A Storm is Coming”. The lyrics are a dialogue between two individuals, describing the violent tension and frustration in a relationship. As the song progresses, the storm unfolds. I’m very proud of how it turned out. There are a lot of musical references throughout that are sort of a homage to my influences and it was great fun working with both Henrik Bergan Fossum (drums) and Mimi Tamba (vocals). They both delivered outstanding performances.
With “A Storm Is Coming”, Riis, also known for his work as the co-founder, songwriter and lead guitarist of Norwegian Prog Rockers AIRBAG, has managed to combine the art of rock, prog and atmospheric pop, to produce a prog rock album laden with atmosphere, and which is both heavier, but at the same time more tender, than his previous releases.
With its themes of human relationships and loss, “A Storm Is Coming” is written as a dialogue between two people. Formed of six epic songs and clocking in at 51 minutes, the album was recorded at the Subsonic Society in Oslo, mixed by long-time collaborator Vegard Kleftås Sleipnes, and mastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo (WHITE WILLOW, THE OPIUM CARTEL).
In addition to Bjørn Riis on vocals, guitars and a wide variety of instruments, the album features performances by Henrik Bergan Fossum (AIRBAG) on drums, Simen Valldal Johannessen (OAK) on keys, Ole Michael Bjørndal on guitar, Kristian Hultgren (WOBBLER) on bass, and Mimmi Tamba on guest vocals.
With artwork by Asle Tostrup, tracklisting on “A Storm is Coming” is as follows:
With artwork by Asle Tostrup, tracklisting on “A Storm is Coming” is as follows:
1 When Rain Falls 2. Icarus 3. You And Me 4. Stormwatch 5. This House 6. Epilogue
“A Storm is Coming” will be available in Digisleeve CD, Digital, and two different vinyl formats, which include a limited edition, one-time-only pressing on marble vinyl with an alternative portrait album cover, as well as a standard black vinyl version. All formats are now available to pre-order from the following:
BJORN RIIS’ next live appearance will be on the 17 May at the three-day Terra Incognita Festival in Quebec, Canada, where fellow Karisma Records label-mates AIRBAG and OAK are also scheduled to perform.
In September he is also set to appear at the 2 Days Prog + 1 Festival in Veruno, Italy.
A video by Kjetil Karlsen for the track “Where Are You Now” from Bjørn Riis’s album ‘Forever Comes to an End’ can be seen at https://youtu.be/cuGTuNKKgso
With just over two weeks to go to the 22nd February release of “October After All”, the third full-length album from singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer RHYS MARSH, Karisma Records have today released a track from the album.
“October After All” once again sees RHYS handling most of the instrumental and vocal duties, but the album also features contributions from Anders Bjermeland, Tale Vang Ellefsen, Kåre Kolve, Roar Øien and Arve Henriksen, as well as vocals from the likes of, Silje Leirvik, Anders Bjermeland, Rohey Taalah, Ole Kristian Malmedal, Vilde Aakre Lie, Tale Vang Ellefsen, Arve Henriksen and Tim Bowness.
The end result is a beautiful, atmospheric, prog album that features both alternative rock and jazz elements, and about which Rhys recently had this to say:
I try to approach every album from a different angle, to give it its own identity. When I was writing this album, I was very inspired by music from the mid- to late-seventies, especially songs that had string synthesizers in place of Mellotrons. And of course, the drum sounds from that era, which I absolutely love. These songs were all written after I got married and our son was born, so for the first time, on any album really, I let the songs be reflections of specific events.
“October After All” was produced by Rhys Marsh and recorded & mixed by Marsh at the Autumnsongs Recording Studio in Trondheim, with additional recording by Roar Øien at Tyrirot Studio, Tim Bowness at the Hidden Art Studios, and Arve Henriksen at the Arve Music Studio.
Tracklisting for “October After All” is as follows:
River
Long Way Back
Golden Lullabies
Ride The New Wave
The Butterflies
Let It Be Known!
One Hundred Memories
The Summer Days
‘22’
(It Will Be) October After All
“October After All” will be available in CD, Digital and Vinyl formats.The CD and Vinyl formats will include a link to 12 downloadable bonus tracks and can now be pre-ordered from the following:
Karisma Records have revealed the details of the upcoming full-length album from Iceland’s Psychedelic Prog Rockers LUCY IN BLUE. The eight-track album, titled “In Flight”, will be the second full-length release from the young band who are making considerable waves on the Icelandic Prog Scene with their elaborate grooves and delicate chord movements, performed with a skill that belies their age.
To give listeners a taste of what they can expect from LUCY IN BLUE, Karisma Records have today released a single from “In Flight”. The single, titled “Matricide” can be downloaded and streamed at https://karismarecords.lnk.to/Matricide
“In Flight” is an album that amply showcases LUCY IN BLUE’s ethereal harmonies and philosophical lyrics, which deal not only with the whole spectrum of human emotion, but also touch on more political themes as well.
Tracklisting for “In Flight” is as follows:
01. Alight Part 1 02. Alight Part 2 03. Respire 04. Matricide 05. Núverandi 06. Tempest 07. In Flight 08. On Ground
Formed in 2013, LUCY IN BLUE released their self-titled debut album via Bandcamp in 2016, and, since then, the band has been stunning crowds in their native Iceland with their soaring guitar solos and intense build-ups, taking their audiences for a ride through the psychedelic soundscapes and the progressive song writing styles of the 1970’s.
Finally, with the release of “In Flight” a much wider audience will be able to see LUCY IN BLUE’s Arnaldur Ingi Jónsson on Keyboards and vocals, Kolbeinn Þórsson on Drums, Matthías Hlífar Mogensen on Bass and vocals, and Steinþór Bjarni Gíslason on guitar and vocals in action, when they hit the stage at the Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands, on the 14th April.
“In Flight” will hit the streets on the 12 April and will be available in CD, Digital, and Limited Edition transparent turquoise vinyl formats, and can be pre-ordered now from:
Karisma Records have gone much further afield than their native Norway with their latest signing, Brazilian Symphonic Proggers CARAVELA ESCARLATE, whose self-titled sophomore full-length album will be released by the label on the 1st of March.
Formed in Rio de Janeiro in 2011, CARAVELA ESCARLATE’s lineup of David Caravelle on vocals, bass, guitars and violins, Ronaldo Rodrigues (MASSAHARA, ARCPELAGO) on Keyboards and Elcio Cáfaro on Drums, are a trio heavily inspired by both English and Italian ’70’s Prog Rock, but they draw on traditional and popular Brazilian music, which gives them a special, and quite unique, sound.
Whilst the band’s 2017 debut album “Raschuno” was more acoustic, “Caravela Escarlate” is a huge step towards a more keyboard-driven, classic prog rock sound for the band. It is an album that almost sounds as if it could have been recorded in 1973, but the lyrics (in Portuguese) give it a distinctly modern edge, inspired, as they are, by science fiction, comic books and environmental concerns.
Recorded at the Mata Studio in Rio De Janeiro in 2017, the album follows the adventures of Caravela Escarlate, which, translated means “Crimson Ship”, an alien being from Sideral space that can transform itself into its own means of transport – specifically a ship. And you’d be hard-pushed to find a better subject for a spaced-out, retro prog album than that!
With Artwork by Fabio Gracia, tracklisting for “Caravela Escarlate” is as follows:
01. Um Brilho Frágil no Infinito 02. Caravela Escarlate 03. Atmosfera 04. Gigantes da Destruição 05. Toque as Constelações 06. Futuro Passado 07. Cosmos 08. Planeta-Estrela
Karisma Records have given us a taste of what to expect from “Caravela Escarlate” by releasing the title track as a single, which can be streamed or downloaded at https://karismarecords.lnk.to/CaravelaEscarlate
“Caravela Escarlate” will be released in CD, LP and Digital formats, and is now available to pre-order from the following:
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