Norway's progressive rock darlings Wobbler are back with their fourth album, and first since 2011's Rites at Dawn, titled From Silence to Somewhere. This four track epic, their first release for Karisma Records, features the current line-up of:
Lars Fredrik Frøislie - keyboards, backing vocals
Kristian Karl Hultgren - bass, bass clarinet, bass pedals
Martin Nordrum Kneppen -drums, percussion, recorder
Andreas Wettergreen Strømman Prestmo - vocals, guitar, glockenspiel, percussion
Geir Marius Bergom Halleland - lead guitar, backing vocals
Fans of the bands previous three release can expect another mind blowing excursion into glorious '70s influenced progressive rock, as shades of Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, PFM, Jethro Tull, Gentle Giant, and ELP abound throughout these new songs, as well as more modern contemporaries such as Anglagard, White Willow, Tusmorke, and Anekdoten. The opening 21-minute title track is a gargantuan adventure as only Wobbler can create, jam packed with analog keyboards such as Mellotron, Moog, Hammond organ, and Chamberlin, soaring flute, clarinet, booming Rickenbacker bass, Taurus bass pedals, and stinging guitar leads. This piece is classic symphonic prog at it's finest, with a slight touch of folk to perfectly round it all out. The lone short track here is "Rendered in Shades of Green", a brief piano interlude from Lars Fredrik Froislie, which segues into the furious Yes/Gentle Giant influenced "Fermented Hours". Kristian Karl Hultgren's rumbling Rickenbacker bass drives this tumultuous song that also includes some wild Moog, Hammond, and lead guitar work, with Andreas Wettergreen Strømman Prestmo's lead vocals seeming to play homage to the greats of the Italian prog scene such as Banco, Museo Rosenbach, and PFM. Of course, the always present Mellotron makes a dramatic appearance once again, as well as a little church organ, in what is ultimately just a fantastic composition, and one of the bands very best. The more pastoral "Foxlight" closes out the show, all 13-minutes of folky prog majesty, as flutes, recorder, and clarinet float over acoustic guitar and mystical chimes, before the pace slowly starts to build, with electric guitar, bass, Mellotron, and even more keyboards join in on the fun. An extended section of acoustic guitar, Mellotron, and flute is just lovely, before the symphonic arrangements burst back in for a sizzling finale that also features some wonderful Gentle Giant styled vocal arrangements.
It's almost hard to fathom just how good From Silence to Somewhere is, easily one of 2017s best progressive rock releases from a band that just can seemingly do no wrong. Glorious stuff from top to bottom, and highly recommended! Wobble has done it again!
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1. From Silence to Somewhere
2. Rendered in Shades of Green
3. Fermented Hours
4. Foxlight