Psychedelic folk proggers Jordsjø and the electronic synth wizards Breidablik represent some of the best of what Norway has to offer in terms of captivating experimental music; two very different outfits who somehow and for some magical reason seem to complement each other splendidly. Kontraster, which translates to “Contrasts”, is a fitting title in that their respective takes on forward-thinking and transcendent music differ from one another, which obviously only adds to the intriguing and enticing nature of this split album, but again, their differences work in their favor as evidenced by the quality of this output.
Jordsjø have a certain knack for conjuring up a unique world of sound in which the pastoral and bucolic merge superbly with the strangely eerie and almost folk horror-esque. Things move seamlessly from tranquil sonic landscapes to 70s-flavored prog rock outbursts, but there are a couple of instances where it feels as if the composition loses its direction slightly without necessarily appearing aimless or meandering, or in other words; its momentum is neither constantly nor consistently maintained throughout and some passages are undoubtedly more effective and noteworthy than others. Overall though, there is plenty to get excited about here as it delivers tension, drama, languid grooves, gorgeous left-field ideas, and timely nods to the music of the late 60s and early 70s. Also, the vocals are first-rate and add heaps of atmosphere to the proceedings.
To merely state that Breidablik is reminiscent of the mighty Tangerine Dream would be akin to laziness on the part of this writer. Sure, their otherworldly sound recalls the phenomenal Phaedra in places and generally owes a debt to the Berlin School of electronic music as well as krautrock, but the outfit harbors an identity of their own, which ties in with their meditative compositions and melodies evoking an inner image of desolate Scandinavian fields, lakes, and forests. It simply feels very Norwegian, if that makes sense. Their contribution to the album is the more memorable one of the two long-form tracks on the disc as it ebbs and flows perfectly from beginning to end while weaving a swirling, hypnotic spell around the listener. One can easily lose oneself within its many layers and textures. Magnificent and rewarding stuff.
Kontraster does a fabulous job at transporting the listener to realms elsewhere, and what unites the two acts is a certain willingness to explore the realms of forward-thinking music and leave us with the beautiful feeling that we are essentially traveling without a map at hand. How about a meaningful voyage to the inner self accompanied by ecstatic crescendos and bubbling psychedelia?
Kontraster is out now via Apollon Records Prog.
