KORALREVENS KLAGESANG

Thanks again to Avestin for bringing this band to my attention and check out his terrific interview with PANZERPAPPA that can be found on this site. This Norwegian band has been influenced greatly by Frank Zappa and I was reminded of HENRY COW, UNIVERS ZERO, HATFIELD AND THE NORTH and in particular THE MUFFINS while enjoying this disc. They have a lighter, often jazzy sound with sax leading the way. There's certainly a Chamber music vibe at times as well.The band thanks in the liner notes fellow Norwegians and friends WHITE WILLOW as well as ANEKDOTEN who they have opened for on several occasions.

The album opens with "Korallrevens Klagesang I" a solemn song that reminded me a little of SINKADUS. This mournful tune features trombone, tuba, french horn and trumpet. These horn instruments are also on the next song "Korallrevens Klagesang II" but this song is more upbeat and jazzy. It also includes guitar, keys and cymbals.The interplay is incredible. "Kantonesisk Kanotur" features flute, light drums, vibraphone and some organ later. "Apraxia" is another good song with some gentle guitar before 3 minutes.

"Snill Sang Pa Band" has a lot of tempo changes with banjo and accordion.The song stops 5 minutes in and starts all over again. "Etyde" has a great guitar melody as sax plays over top. There is some flute, clarinet and accordion on this one and I like the beautiful sax melodies 5 minutes in. "Vintervake" features ex CARAVAN singer Richard Sinclair on vocals which makes this song a highlight. "Frenetisk Frenologi" is the longest song and it has climate changes throughout. Mellotron before 2 minutes, and there is some heaviness for the first and only time on this record (6 minutes in) as the song closes with piano and flute. "Koralrevens Klagesang III" is less than 3 minutes long and features acoustic guitar and clarinet. Nice.

A very talented band who have impressed me a great deal with this album. A solid 4 stars.