AIMLESS MARY

This is album number three for Norway's own NEEDLEPOINT. Released in 2015, we get get seven tracks worth 39 minutes. A four piece with a new drummer named Olaf Olsen on board for this one. This lineup will stay the same for three straight albums before changing on 2024's "Remnants Of Light". By the way Olaf is drumming on the new self- titled MOTORPSYCHO album released in 2025, although he's on three songs only. The singer, guitarist and leader of the band is Bjorn Klakegg. Although having session maestro David Wallumrod as your keyboardist and Nikolai Haengsle as your bass player surely makes Bjorn's job a much easier one. Nikolai produced this album, and some may recognize him from ELEPHANT9 or perhaps MOSTER!

This was love at first listen. Those whimsical vocals are perfect for this music and of course bring Canterbury to mind. Light jazzy tunes with plenty of vocals and humour will do that. Of course there's an egg in Bjorn's last name as well. I consider five of the seven tracks as being 5 star songs. The other two are excellent as well. So hitting 5 stars here will be an easy thing. Also this is a top three record for me for 2015. And while this is fairly lightweight overall, you have to hear that section to end "Soaring" which brings ELEPHANT9 to mind. We're talking the last 5 minutes of that 8 minute track. A killer section where the train rolls.

The two songs that don't blow me away are the opener "Fear" as well as "Half Awake". Both are really good though. "Fear" is kind of quirky instrumentally as the vocals come and go. Some inventive guitar, then organ leads. "Half Awake" has some interesting things going on early. Drums only before 2 minutes then the bass joins in and it sounds amazing. In fact the bass and drums impress until a calm arrives around 4 minutes in to end it. "Why" was the first song to cause my jaw to drop. Just a gorgeous chorus and I love the lyrics. Some in your face organ at one point too.

"Shattered Into Memories" starts out great with the bass and keyboards that bring LE ORME to mind surprisingly. Again the bass and organ impress, and we get some more interesting guitar here. Big finish. "Aimless Mary" gets stuck in my head. He's telling a story. Some funny lyrics and the guitar melodies are beautiful. The vocals really shine here. "Imaginary Plane" might be my favourite. Just gorgeous. And such a feel good sound before 2 minutes. what a way to end it!

I do love my modern Canterbury related albums, but this one has risen above them all.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Mellotron Storm
• Report this review (#3160175)
• Buy NEEDLEPOINT music online with PA partners
• Show all NEEDLEPOINT MP3/Stream
• Go to NEEDLEPOINT page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Aimless Mary page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for NEEDLEPOINT related discussions