Sproingg - 2017 - Sproingg

(44:34; Sproingg)

Track list:
1. Sugarwax Nailface 4:42
2. And the Mountain Rat Saw God 6:16
3. Homunculous Funkulous 4:32
4. No Place for Children 6:06
5. Krummfutter 3:03
6. Mückmucke 7:15
7. Alligator Peak 4:20
8. The Aliens Have Landed, and I'm One of Them 8:20

Line-up:
Prudi Bruschgo - guitars
Erik Feder - drums, percussion
Johannes Korn - Chapman stick, violin


Prolusion.
German band Sproingg are closing in on a decade as an active band unit, and as of 2023 they have three studio albums to their name. Their debut album "Sproingg" dates back to 2017, and was self released by the band.

Analysis.
It is a more challenging variety of progressive rock that is the focus for the landscapes explored on this instrumental album. Rather than sticking to the more well known, accessible and popular varieties of progressive rock this is a band that focus on challenging perceptions, conventions and boundaries.

Quirky and off kilter instrument sounds and patterns is the norm rather than the exception for the material on this album, and this is explored in quite a few different manners. We have songs that kick off in more of a loose and searching manner, at times with similarities to what one might find in free form jazz, that work themselves towards a more settled, steady and uniform arrangement on the journey from the start to the end. Then we have compositions that take the opposite approach, starting off with a tight, steady and energetic groove and pattern already established, where the journey towards the conclusion see everything unravelling into more chaotic and free form style displays of apparent confusion. We get songs where dominant instruments follow similar but opposite fluctuations, where one goes up the other goes down. And we have songs that combine more careful and dreamladen atmospheres with quirky, chaotic and unusual rhythm and instrument patterns. We also get one singular exception to everything else in the shape of  'No Place For Children' and its focus on a more dreamladen atmosphere where the tones, tonalities and patterns explored appears to have a direct Middle-Eastern influence. We do get some occasional nods towards the likes of King Crimson on this album too, as well as a few possible nods towards the old German krautrock tradition.

This is an album where the case is to expect the unexpected, and where the unconventional is the norm rather than the exception. Probably and presumably this is also a balancing act between the planned and the improvised, with some elements and some passages planned to the most minute detail while others are created on the fly. That we have the contrast between the elegant and the primal as an aspect of a few songs probably merits a mention as well. And words like experimental and avant strikes me as very much appropriate for this production.

Conclusion.
This is an album that strikes me as one that will have a defined niche appeal. The songs are instrumental as well as challenging, and the focus is on challenging the norms rather than creating compelling music making use of established and popular traditions. With liberal amounts of atonal and chaotic qualities, off kilter patterns and arrangements and experimental features, this instrumental production is one to be filed somewhere in the avant department - and an album that warrants an inspection by those with a general fascination for the creations they uncover when they take the time to explore the avant territories for something so far unknown to them.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, December 2023

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/sproingg/