FARLIG VANDRING

Panzerpappa is one of the finest RIO/Avant bands out there currently, these guys have strong influences from bands like Univers Zero and Samla Mammas Manna, and together with the band's amazing musicianship there's no doubt that these guys are something to really check out. The music can best be described as modern Symphonic RIO with very eclectic instrumentation. This album, the band's third release "Farlig Vandring", is just like that. This stuff is extremely complex, very progressive and avoids the "repeating ourselves" trap (something that many other bands have failed) with elegance; It's very fresh sounding and original with other words, and the melodies are excellent. It's really hard to pick out a favorite track here since the album is quite even overall, except for a few very experimental improv sections here and there but that will most likely grow on you. As I said earlier, the musicianship is amazing; every band member is masters of their instruments and the instruments never overshadows themselves plus that there isn't any showcasing from the band here though the music remains mind-boggingly complex. Really great stuff overall!

While their two first releases "...passer gullfisk" and "Hulemysteriet" are out of print (they were only released as CD-r's actually), "Farlig Vandring" is the first Panzerpappa album to be released on a real record label. Still, it's very hard to find sue to it's low distrubution, but if you are a lover of this genre and find this one, then definitely pick it up. Highly recommended, especially for RIO/Avant fans!

I was introduced to Panzerpappa in 2005 when a friend lend me this album. At the time I still haven't started to appreciate the RIO/Avant-Prog genre all that much. Still, I gave the album a spin.

The music I experienced on Farlig Vandring sounded nothing like I've heard before. There were a few similarities to the early Henry Cow music thanks to the prominent sound of saxophones that made the performances sound slightly jazz-oriented in tone although the music structures themselves were far from any jazz recording that I've experienced to that point.

After returning the CD to my friend I haven't really given Panzerpappa much thought until last year when I rediscovered the band's music through their album Koralrevens Klagesang on Spotify. Since I was really into the band Miriodor at the time it made me want to seek out Farlig Vandring and give it a proper chance. I must have given up all hope of finding this album until I, by complete accident, stumbled upon a used copy of it in one of the down town record stores.

It's safe to say that the music I heard this time around sounded nothing like the Panzerpappa I heard back in 2005! This compositions felt much better structured then I originally gave them credit for and the saxophone sound felt a whole lot more enjoyable. I was especially taken by the two 10 minute compositions Ellipsoidisk Karusell and Ompapaomompapa that have the energetic feel that I usually associate with Univers Zero's compositions like Docteur Petiot and Dense. Simply put; some of the best RIO/Avant-Prog music that I've had the pleasure of hearing!

It's actually a pity that non of the shorter compositions can compete with those two magnificent performances since I really feel that Farlig Vandring comes close to an essential piece of Progressive Rock music but doesn't really break through that barrier. Hence a rating of excellent addition to any prog rock music collection is in order here.

***** star songs: Ellipsoidisk Karusell (10:41) Ompapaomompapa (9:43)

**** star songs: Farlig Vandring (På Tynt Vann) (8:32) Utrygge Trøfler (7:06) Agraphia (6:56) Sykkelgnomflaten (6:55)