The Chronicles of Father Robin - 2023 - The Songs & Tales of Airoea. Book 2 [mini-review]

(39:01; The Old Oak Records / Karisma Records)



















Norwegian band The Chronicles of Father Robin are out with the album "The Songs & Tales of Airoea. Book 2", and progressive rock is the style explored on this production. It is a distinctly retro-oriented creation we get with this album. The opening parts revolve around gentler and more pastoral landscapes, with a clear influx of folk music elements, a little bit of jazz tendencies and some occasional elegant, sacral moods. As the album moves on we also get more eclectic and harder hitting landscapes, invoking classic era Jethro Tull on quite a few occasions, but also with what I suspect may be references back to a band like Gentle Giant. Playful and expressive compositions with multiple alterations of pace, overall style and intensity is the order of the day here, with elements from folk music and world music mixed with a bit of jazz and some tight and occasionally harder hitting rock music flavoring. This is quite the joyful experience for those who prefer vintage style progressive rock with a distinct vintage approach, sound and execution. One of those albums to give to those who believe that there hasn't been a good progressive rock album made after 1975, in order to convince them of the error of their ways.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, December 2023

Links:
https://fatherrobin.com/
https://www.karismarecords.no/

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