Bjorn Riis returns with his second studio work from 2022, in which he pays homage to the music that inspired him, Pink Flyd in particular. Entitled “A Fleeting Glimpse,” it is a four-track mini-album under 30 minutes long, released on September 30, 2022 via Karisma Records, with guest appearances. The opener “Dark Shadows (part 1)” moves on soft, dreamy atmospheres and a warm, expressive vocal. Acoustic guitar and a soft rhythm section characterise the sound, which allows the vocals to interpret the lyrics with intensity and choral inserts, adding a melancholic touch to the sound. A track that increases in intensity as the minutes go by, in a musical crescendo, only to return to softer sounds in the finale. The longest track on the album, “A Voyage to the Sun,” is characterised by a darker sound with more heavy traits, recalling the music of Pink Floyd in both the guitar work and the keyboards. Enriched with tempo changes, it alternates between harsher passages and symphonic openings, passing through more experimental sections such as in the final part. “Summer Meadows” opens with the sound of bells and the chirping of birds, developing with acoustic guitar arpeggios and solo electric inserts. The rhythm section is minimal and the guitar is the protagonist in both melodies and solos over a background of keyboards. The opener “Dark Shadows (part 2)” concludes with a long intro that combines atmospheric guitar sounds with an intense vocal. The references to Pink Floyd are also marked here, especially in the guitar work, which offers a good solo that accompanies us throughout the second part of the song, which ends in a crescendo. An interesting listen, which departs from both his previous solo works and those with the band, honouring the music of masters such as Pink Floyd. Bjorn’s personal touch in the composition phase gives a marked imprint to the sound, succeeding in presenting the sounds of the past in a modern key with refined ideas.
Tracklist
01. Dark Shadows (part 1) (06:47)
02. A Voyage to the Sun (07:41)
03. Summer Meadows (05:26)
04. Dark Shadows (part 2) (06:10)
Lineup
Bjørn Riis / Vocals, Guitars, Bass and Keyboards
With:
Arild Brøter (Pymlico) / Drums
Øyvind Brøter (Pymlico) / Keyboards
Per Øydir / Guitar
Durga McBroom / Vocals
Mimmi Tamba / Vocals