Swifan Eolh & The Mudra Choir - The Key. 2019 Norway

Over 30 years ago, there was a new band from Norway that appeared on an also new LP-only imprint called Colours. That group was known as Utopian Fields, who managed two albums, and both of those have just recently received a CD reissue on the Norsk Classic Albums label. Swifan Eolh & The Mudra Choir (these monikers...) is version 2.0 of Utopian Fields, among others. All the newer bands from Norway are very well studied, and the music they produce is excellent, if not necessarily ear catching. You could read what I said about Tusmorke's latest, and apply it here. Unfortunately these Norwegian albums tend to all blur together (excepting Wobbler of course). I probably need a few hours of intense listening to begin to sift them all through my mind. For The Key, I listened to each side twice, but no specific words emerged. I didn't care for 'Tides are Turning' and liked the opener 'Wounded Dreamers' best. ProgArchives for their part make a point to call this "eclectic prog". I wouldn't have a clue what that meant, but Swifan Eolh & The Mudra Choir do seem a perfect fit for such a wide ranging genre. As for that defunct label Colours, Utopian Fields could be seen as the most obscure on the imprint, considering no less luminaries than Anglagard, Anekdoten, and Landberk all debuted there. Swifan Eolh & The Mudra Choir will be even more obscure in the annals of time.

Ownership: LP: 2019 Apollon. Gatefold. Lyric inner sleeve. I have to say that the packaging of all these new albums is very nice.

5/9/22 (new entry)

Tusmørke - Nordisk Krim. 2021 Norway

I last left Tusmørke in 2017 (Tusmorke if searching in English) after Hinsides, which was their 4th album. This is their latest, and Tusmørke are already on their 9th album (!). I was yin and yang on those first quartet of works, having enjoyed the debut and their 3rd, but the other two were perhaps a bit too folky/singy. Given that Nordisk Krim clocks in at over 80 minutes, it would seem that we'll likely get the entire Tusmørke repertoire. And more or less, that's exactly what this album brings. You can read my reviews of the others and have an idea of the sound here. Flute remains a key ingredient, and that's their best asset IMO. If you're new to the group, this wouldn't be a bad place to enter, even though this comes late in their career. At this stage of my own collecting career, it's getting to the point that even an "excellent" rating isn't moving the needle much. I need some wow moments, which Nordisk Krim lacks. But how can I say it isn't great? I don't know if I'll keep all 5 albums that I own by them, but this won't be the first out the door either.

Ownership: LP: 2021 Karisma. Gatefold. 2xLP. Magenta colored vinyl. Limited edition of 666 (a tiresome and unoriginal number).

5/9/22 (first listen / review / new entry)

Seven Impale - City of the Sun. 2014 Norway

Seven Impale's debut is a dense work recalling Van der Graaf Generator and King Crimson, with a more contemporary vocal style. A somewhat typical modern take on 70s prog rock, borderline impenetrable, but ultimately satisfying.

Ownership: LP: 2014 Karisma. Single sleeve. Limited edition of 300. Nice artwork with no other features.

5/5/22 (new entry)

Zarathustra - Also Spielt... 1982 Germany

One more title from the old CDRWL. I had a +1 listen last night from my newly acquired vinyl copy. My original (newly edited) notes are below.

Early on in my collecting career, I was informed that the early 80s version of Zarathustra was a waste of time, and that the 1972 album by an unrelated band was the only Zarathustra worth seeking out. So when Second Battle reissued the Metronome 1972 album (1989), I was all over it, buying the LP re-release the minute it came out. I was happy with the purchase, as it is an excellent representative of the Hammond organ rich German culture of the time. 

Have an inside tip for all you out there: I like this title better!

This Zarathustra absolutely nails the 80s neo-progressive meets 60s psychedelic sound. If you like the music of similar German bands like Neuschwanstein, Ivory, and Sirius with an additional psychedelic acid guitar of Iskander (another unheralded 80s group), then by all means you'll want to hear this. Perhaps only the M.L. Bongers Project approaches this unlikely mix of Hawkwind meets Genesis. One of those albums that is entirely unpredictable, and the relistening factor is very high.

Ownership: LP: 1982 private. Single sleeve. Recent online acquisition (2022). No reissues exist.

5/22/12 (CDRWL); 5/4/22 (new entry)