I really enjoyed the last release from this Norwegian prog folk psychedelic Canterbury outfit, ‘En Pakt Med Naturen’, but I am having significant issues getting inside this one. There were some personnel changes during the recording, and I am sure that has impacted on an album which at times feels as if the kitchen sink has been thrown at it. There are times when it is sheer genius, especially when they come across as a modern Gryphon, but there are plenty of others when it feels we have been stuck in a repeated loop as they don’t know how to progress to the next stage.
The total running time is just shy of 41 minutes, but half of that is devoted to just one track, “Lidskjalv”, which apparently has existed as a demo since the 90’s but this is the first time they have undertaken a proper recording. The other four songs came about in November 2022 for a Winter Solstice celebration, but to me they are less than the sum of their parts. I am sure the turmoil in the band has impacted the overall result, with less focus than there should have been. For example, in recent years Benediktator has provided bass and vocals, but here it is bass, vocals, electric guitar, Mellotron M4000D, Moog Minimoog Model D, Roland SH-2, Roland TR-08, Glockenspiel, percussion, Roland RE-201, handclaps, and only he and Krizla (flute, recorder, vocals & Moog Minimoog Model D) played on the last few albums and every track on this one. Fans will probably lap it up, but I was disappointed, although I still look forward to the next one.
