INTERFERENCE NUMBER 9

Procosmian Fannyfiddlers is a strange group with a strange name from Norway. I have not heard any of their earlier albums but from what I've read this album doesn't sound too different to what they were doing previously. The vocals are all in English while the music is generally some kind of mix of 'prog folk' and 'avant-prog'. There is lots of acoustic instruments but also some sampled Mellotron as well. The music can be somber or more playful and they know how to rock out when they want to. Sometimes the music here reminds me of Samla Mammas Manna. The sound and production is not the greatest but the music itself is fantastic and well played.

The album opens with backwards sounds and a clock ticking before "Captain Mystique" brings us some dark folky symphonic rock. Later just acoustic guitar arpeggios and female vocals. Some wind-like sounds. After awhile the rhythm section joins in, then the sampled Mellotron first appears being followed by wordless harmony singing. Male vocals towards the end as the song builds to a symphonic climax then goes back to the acoustic guitar and female vocals. "Lingerie" has some modified percussion and female vocals. After she says "I talk to the dead" it goes full-throttle into some kind of punkabilly. Then some jazzy classical oriented rock. Later the music gets folkier and jazzier with male vocals. After some 'chorus' like female vocals the music turns into dark symphonic rock.

"Vinegar Woman" starts off as some kind of post-punk/goth rock/chamber rock hybrid, then goes folky and acoustic with female vocals. Male and female vocals do the 'chorus' part. Lovely violin before it briefly turns into some sort of folky math rock. Back to the folky part but now with the whole band backing. "Cult Of Coal" begins with 'Here Comes The Bride' played on organ. Then it quickly switches to a darker atmosphere featuring picked guitars and vocals. Gets lighter with the male vocals and return of organ. Full band and female vocals come in; the music is much more folky now. Out of nowhere comes some indie/alt. rock guitar playing with flutes playing over top. The drummer really stands out in the last half of this song. Nice 'Latin' beat at the end.

"Tautology Of Love" opens with the sounds of children playing. Then the music goes chamber prog and then folky and then a mix of the two with some jazz-rock thrown in. I like the guitar tone in this song. Great drumming in this track...too bad it wasn't recorded better. "Crying At The Crap Show" opens with mournful violin before some slightly jazzy guitar leads the band into some bouncy folk-rock with alternating male and female singing. The 'chorus' part here is fairly memorable. This song changes between lower-key and more bombastic moments throughout. Backwards sounds and skronky trumpet at one point. Gets very symphonic at the end.

"Procession For A Floating Body" starts out like a procession for a dead body. The funeral march turns into a folky section with female vocals. Gets jazzier in the middle with a little bit of trumpet. Ends as folky symphonic rock. I could see how this would not be everyone's cup of whatever but it may appeal to some. Nothing truly original here but this does not sound like your typical prog album of 2012. The almost lo-fi sound quality adds an atmosphere to the music but the rhythm section still should have been more clear sounding and upfront in the mix. More high points than low points on this one. I'll give it 4 stars.