Thule ~ Norway

Natt (1990)

If Natt isn't the album in my collection with the longest span since I last heard it, then it most certainly is in the running. Bought it not too long after release, and heard it a few times that year, filed away, and here it is for a relisten some 35 years later. To underscore this, I've since moved my entire collection seven times, back and forth between Colorado and Texas - and within each state as well. Have too much stuff, Genius Hans? Yea, methinks so too.

In any case my reaction real time, and today, is that Natt's opener is far more aggressive than the spacey Ultima Thule, as documented below. It's really hard to know what Thule were up to at this stage. Despite their progressive rock heritage, it appears the band were moving into other musical areas. The Hammond organ and electric guitar tones are reminiscent of the past but the compositions are more song based. It's been suggested they were playing a type of gothic rock, and I'm inclined to agree. The darkened atmosphere required for the latter is sorely missing here, and the tracks sort of plod along without purpose. For my tastes, B1 is the highlight.

I remember being very disappointed with their subsequent Frostbrent album, as they had largely abandoned prog rock altogether. Though I suspect it may have been more committed to goth, and perhaps in the end, it was the better album. I no longer own it, so that evaluation will have to be for another day. ProgArchives, for their part, rate Natt as their finest hour. I'll vote for the debut.

Thule were one of a handful of contemporary Scandinavian progressive rock bands on the Norwegian Colours label, one of the earliest of the prog specialty labels. Most known for breaking out Anglagard, Landberk, and Anekdoten - on vinyl at least - they also promoted more obscure bands such as Utopian Fields and The Smell of Incense. They were swimming upstream with their (mostly) LP-only stance at a time when everyone was switching to CDs. They were obviously too far ahead of their time, as they had the right idea for the future.

Ownership: 1990 Colours (LP). Gatefold with native lyrics on the inside. Also comes with a lyric booklet in multiple other languages. Acquired in 1991.

1991; 5/25/26 (review)
 

Ultima Thule (1987)

I bought this from Eurock not long after it was released, and to say it was anachronistic at the time, would have to considered an understatement. While certainly not as retro-prog conscious as Anglagard, Thule do seem to have fallen out of a 1970s time machine. Probably the same contraption that fellow northern Norwegians' Tangle Edge fell out of near the same time. The album is comprised of two side long compositions, that flow together as one long piece (and that supposedly tells a tale of colonizing a new continent - yea, yippee yayhoo). Without a doubt, mid 70s Pink Floyd and / or Ocean era Eloy seem to be the primary influence here, though sung in their native tongue complete with some dark narration bits. There are some 1980s references to be found though, such as the fat digital production with wide open drum beats, as well as an occasional period synthesizer sound. The album pretty much plods along at a slow to mid tempo pace throughout, and the focus falls squarely on the dark atmosphere provided. Thule probably should have experimented a bit more with complex rhythms and dynamics to allow for a more kinetic experience. While this was never what I would consider a great album - it's not one I would be willing to part with either and, in fact, it has aged quite well.

Ownership: 1987 private (LP). Acquired in 1988.

1988; 6/19/10 (review)

Once owned: Frostbrent

6/19/10 (new entry)