TWILIGHT CINEMA

Major Parkinson is a Norwegian progressive rock band which has made three album since 2008. I have just heard their last from 2014 "Twilight cinema" because I am exploring this year's new releases and I am very impressed. I can absolutely understand how people consider this a five star record and I want to praise it honestly. This is modern and very sophisticated prog rock.

The record's cover is dark and melancholic. We see a cold forest with a raven in the centre, who is sitting on a stone. Even if the sound mostly is quite dark is it so full of intriguing ingredients and funny sound effects so you'll be happy to hear it anyway. The melodies are also quite sweet. The dark and deep vocals come from Jon Ivar Kollbotn and the guitarist of the band is André Lund. Eivind Gammersvik plays bass, Lars Christian Björknes plays synth and Steinar Hjelmbrekke plays guitar. Jens Erik Aasmundseth is the drummer of the band. On this record the presence of a girl: Annette Kathinka Servan is also important. She sings on at least two songs.

This colourful music could be used as soundtrack to an experimental movie. The band has made a record with very well produced and rich sounding music. It is a great flow in it too, the songs follow each other very smoothly. Often we hear sounds from a circus and the record is both exciting and harmonic. I think i like "The Wheelbarrow" most, a really powerfull song(9/10) but "Twilight Cinema", the ending chorus of the album(8/10) and "Impermanence" are energic tracks(8/10). The sweet "Beaks of Benevola"(8/10) and the darker "Black River" are also worth hearing. Actuelly this record surprises me. It doesn't sound like other prog rock, it touches other modern genres but mostly it is just unique.

An honest and intriguing record filled with enigmatic tunes will I give four stars!