NATT

THULE certainly did their part in bringing life back into the Progressive music scene in their home country of Norway in the late eighties and early nineties. In fact a man I respect a great deal who is from Norway says this album "Natt" is in the top ten of all-time greatest albums to come out of his nation. The music here is really a combination of eighties "Dark Wave" and seventies Prog. Heavy is the word with gothic vocals. Great organ runs with prominant guitar while the bass is especially huge. It's all good though especially the drumming and arrangements."Natt" means "Night" in Norwegian.The vocals are all in Norwegian and so is most of the liner notes unfortunately.There is some English though that tells us that this album "Is the story about what happens when day turns to night, and the darkness comes sneaking down. At first it appears as a friend-a shelter from the absurd reality-later on as an oppressive and constant feel that makes you feel totally powerless". It goes on to say ""Natt" is just a collection of impressions and atmospheres from the outermost outskirts of the Western Worlds decayed civilization".

"Natt" opens with gentle piano as strummed guitar and bass join in. It's building until 1 1/2 minutes in, then here we go ! The synths remind me of RUSH. Vocals come in with a yell a minute later. I like the guitar 5 minutes in. "Taegn" means "sign" as the people leave their homeland in search for signs of life. It opens quietly but it's building. It settles back with synths a minute in. Reserved vocals join in. It builds back up then settles again. The contrasts continue. "Goilitigei" has a deep, heavy soundscape with vocals. Organ before 1 1/2 minutes. The guitar after 2 1/2 minutes makes some noise, it sounds great with the organ. It ends with spoken words and laughter. "Morsketi" is pastoral with keys to open but drums and bass change that, and the vocals that come in are almost spoken. It kicks in before 2 minutes. It settles again as contrasts continue. The guitar before 4 minutes lights it up and the organ does the same. Samples before 5 minutes. Incredible tune ! "Hap" means "hope". It opens with dual spoken words as the bass throbs heavily. Cool ! Guitar comes in and the dual vocals start to get theatrical as drums and synths support. The vocals are now yelling as the guitar rips it up and we get a huge finish.

"Drom" means "dream" and it builds slowly until powerful organ sounds come in. Then it calms down but again builds again as organ and guitar this time kick in around 4 1/2 minutes. Nice. Strummed guitar ends it. "Langfaerd" means "the long voyage" as the people hunt for happiness but can't find it. It sounds like cars driving by to open and close this song. Nice heavy sound with passionate vocals and great organ runs. The guitar rips it up too. A calm before 3 minutes as gothic vocals come in and RUSH-like synths. Fat bass lines too. Amazing sound 5 minutes in with guitar and organ. Contrasts of heavy and calm continue. "Vinterbarn" is a call for the people to search for daylight. Coughing and acoustic guitar to open. Vocals before a minute. Synths before 3 minutes.The guitar and heaviness 4 1/2 minutes in sounds really good.

Not as good as their debut in my opinion, but a must for fans of dark heavy music.