HULEMYSTERIET

This is their second demo that had received an issue, and although theoretically out-of-print, the band still deals the demo through homemade CD-r. Mine arrived in a sampling bag with a large Norwegian orange info-sheet and a much smaller white English translation. Up to you to fit this into a jewel case or not: it doesn't fit without some adjustments. Musically speaking, if you know the group's two official releases, you'll get no surprises here either as the group develops their usual brand of avant-prog, somewhere between Miriodor, chamber music, & more symphonic Scandinavian prog (ala Angladotenberk) if you can believe: I know it might be difficult to "picture" their musical landscape, but that's about as good as I can make it.

On the one hand there is the soft avant-prog that a sedated Alamaailman Vasarat or Von Samla might dish out (Yiddish Fake Polka), at times, you'd swear you're listening to a Swedish Crimsonic version of Univers Zero (the title track), while some modern Norwegian symphonic bands like Wobbler or Gargamel are interfering in both the left and the right channel of your stereo hi-fi system. Among the better tracks is the lengthy Tool Is The 23rd Solution with its wild interplay and constant breaks. And the closing 99 Steps with its loadful of mellotrons and trons of changes is not too shabby either, but my fave must be Sick Samba.

While not really all that essential Hulemysteriet to progheads, it is quite a nice "mise-en-bouche" and personally, I consider this "demo" as a perfect complement those two full-blown prog "legit" albums.