The third chapter “The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book III” concludes the trilogy dedicated to Father Robin and his adventures in the land of Airoea. It is indeed with the third record that the Scandinavian Progressive Rock supergroup releases in just one year for the renowned Karisma Records containing six medium-length tracks and available from February 23, 2024. Opener “Magical Chronicle” immediately plunges us into the album’s atmosphere with a retro-style choral vocal reminiscent of 70s bands. With the entry of all instruments, the band develops an elaborate, rhythmic and engaging theme that enhances the compositional and performing technique of the artists involved. A mixture of classic Prog with Canterbury overtones and the band’s Scandinavian and modern touch. Valuable instrumental textures, always refined, alternate with warm and expressive vocal parts à la Gentle Giant. The intensity increases as the song progresses, enriched by solo interventions and continuous tempo changes, a purely Prog opening. An atmospheric-sounding introduction opens “Skyslumber,” among the longest tracks on the album, exceeding seven minutes. Guitar arpeggios and a soft vocal characterise the first part, then increase in intensity as the minutes go by and develop a more modern sound than the previous one. The retro traits are brought into a fresh and modern context, showing the versatility of the band, always able to imprint their own mark on the sound. In the finale, the song ends by reprising the atmospheric sounds of the intro. “Cloudship” creates a dreamy atmosphere with acoustic guitar and keyboards over which a sometimes choral vocal reminiscent of Jon Anderson of YES is inserted. The band departs from Scandinavian sounds, proposing a distinctly British sound, where the melodic component permeates the song with excellent choral parts. Remaining on a softer and more delicate sound, the track flows pleasantly until the finale, showing another facet of the band. Returning to more energetic and lively sounds, “Empress of the Sun” opens with a solid, elaborate rhythm section and fine guitar and keyboard interlacing. Harder guitar riffs, a dynamic and incisive vocal, to which is added energetic drumming and a deep, driving bass line, while the keyboards draw catchy melodies. The alternation of instrumental sections and vocal parts is perfectly balanced, offering the listener almost five minutes of dynamic and engaging music that once again brings the 70s into a modern and personal context. “Lost in the Palace Gardens” incorporates Folk elements to the sound, with interesting mandolin arpeggios and percussive drumming. The choral vocal parts fit perfectly into the musical context of the track, which incorporates elements of classical prog in the middle section, creating a fine mixture of genres and styles. It is the longest track on the album, in which the entire duration is exploited by enhancing the band’s compositional and performing technique between vocal and instrumental parts with refined soloist inserts. The album and the trilogy end with “Epilogue,” the shortest of the disc. One minute in which the sounds of nature are played. From the very first chapter, this project impressed me with the quality of the compositions and their execution. The lyrics and music offer three albums that are intense, elaborate and at the same time accessible to the listener, bringing the classic sounds of Prog Rock into a modern context with personal traits. This third release is also a must-have album for all lovers of the genre, exploring throughout the tracklist all the musical nuances of the band. A recommended listen, and among the best releases so far of 2024, a modern prog masterpiece like the previous two chapters.
Tracklist
01. Magical Chronicle (06:09)
02. Skyslumber (07:25)
03. Cloudship (06:56)
04. Empress of the Sun (04:47)
05. Lost in the Palace Gardens (07:58)
06. Epilogue (01:04)
Lineup
Andreas Wettergreen Strømman Prestmo / Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Synth, Organ, Glockenspiel, Percussion
Henrik Harmer / Drums & Percussion, Synth, Backing Vocals
Regin Meyer / Flute, Organ, Piano, Backing Vocals
Jon Andre Nilsen / Bass, Backing Vocals
Thomas Hagen Kaldhol / Guitars, Mandolin, Electronics & Sound Effects, Backing Vocals
Aleksandra Morozova / Vocals
With:
Lars Fredrik Frøislie / Keyboards, Organ, Mellotron, Piano, Synth
Kristoffer Momrak / Synth
Håkon Oftung / Organ, Clavinet, Mellotron, Strings, Electric Piano, Synth
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