Jordsjø: Nattfiolen

Just over a year ago Jord, the digital debut from Oslo, Norway duo Jordsjø landed in the world of SoT. The main protagonists, Håkon Oftung and Kristian Frøland - the latter playing the drums and percussion, the former, well, just about everything else and who also has links with the band Tusmørke - weaving a traditional symphonic prog tapestry that while revealing the occasional moment of weakness did more than enough to pique the interest. Nattfiolen is the quick fire follow up from the pair, a deeper, more involved journey undertaken into a life longing for simpler times and centred around music. With such a starting point it’s maybe little surprise that spotting touches of King Crimson or Gentle Giant is hardly a challenge and neither is the copious and rather glorious amount of mellotron an earth shattering revelation. Mainly instrumental, occasional Norwegian vocals are added, with the gentle but purposeful “Til Våren� a perfect vehicle for Oftung’s plain but undoubtedly effective voice. The hand of the ever ubiquitous Steven Wilson also appears at times - “Solens Sirkulære Sang� would, you’d guess, feel right at home on The Raven That Refused To Sing, for example - but in reality the scene that this outfit most closely fit into is that currently being led by the likes of Wobbler.

One odd omission by the band, however, is that the excellent, lengthy title track for Nattfiolen itself has been left languishing on bandcamp as a download only track - the band torn between including it or being able to have a vinyl length release at their disposal; my own feelings being that so good is this song that it does the album a disservice by not being included. That aside, there’s a noticeable step up in confidence and class from Jord to this release, the naturally flowing music an immediate joy that welcomes you into the vintage world this duo wish to reside in. From the glorious swirl of “Stifinner� right through to the poignant beauty of “Ulvenatt� the authentic believability is unquestioned and while the voyage across Nattfiolen may be a reasonably gentle one there’s no denying that it’s varied and involved enough to demand your attention.

Jord suggested that the future looked bright for Jordsjø but it has to be said that the quick advances taken between that debut and this second effort are impressive. If they continue to grow at this rate then what comes next could place them right at the head of the pack.

Track Listing
1. Ouverture
2. Stifinner
3. Solens Sirkulære Sang
4. Septemberbål
5. Mine Templer II
6. Til VÃ¥ren
7. Ulvenatt

Added: September 21st 2019
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Jordsjø on bandcamp
Hits: 1096
Language: english

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