SEHR KOSMISCH, GANZ PROGISCH

Well this came from nowhere didn't it?

Apparently there has long been an undercurrent of admiration for Krautrock in today's glorious Scandinavian prog music scene, and led by Ketil Vestrum Einarsen it's all come together in an album that I've been listening to repeatedly for months now. I really can't get over 'Sehr Kosmisch, Ganz Progisch' and certainly can't do it justice in text. There are already excellent reviews of this album from PA's senior reviewers but any 'Krautrock' or 'Psychedelic/Space Rock' fan simply must hear this masterpiece. One feature not previously noted is the classical track titles:

'Tanzen und Springen' is a madrigal by the Dutch Renaissance composer Hans Leo Hassler (I wonder if this comes from guest musician Lars Fredrik Frøislie of Wobbler).

'Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde' is a song by Mahler.

'Die Kunst der Fuge' is a famous collection of pieces by Bach.

'Tristrant' is a romance by a 12th century German poet called Eilhart von Oberge (ditto to note for track 1).

Phew - going back to Krautrock(!), here's my take on the original inspiration: the band's geographical name 'Weserbergland', and the music of the first two tracks, are vintage Neu!. On both of that band's major albums there are 'geographical' titles ('Weissensee' on the 1972 album, and 'Seeland' on the 1975 album). The lovely, languid electronic style of these tracks is particularly similar to Weserbergland's 'Tanzen' and 'Trinklied'. The last three minutes of the second track also sound inspired by Irmin Schmidt's semi-musical electronics (such as on Can's 'Bel Air' to name one example).

But when it comes to 'Kunst' and 'Tristrant', I am simply overwhelmed, I've never heard the like. Walls of magnificent sound, beautiful melodies surrounded by all sorts of complexity and Planet Zog percussion. The last track especially is where all the guest 'stars' (in our world) perform and it has to be heard to be believed. A special mention (again) to Lars Fredrik Frøislie who thereby features on both my favourite albums of 2017 (no prizes for guessing the other).

Verdict: Einwahn's #1 album of 2017.

Due to uncounted contributions to diverse bands, respectively music projects, Ketil Vestrum Einarsen can be seen as a real key figure when it comes to the prog rock scene in Norway. Now recently he could form a unit that should implement his personal vision of a krautrock inspired progressive rock album. And so 'Sehr Kosmisch Ganz Progisch' appears with a German title of course, moreover this is pointing to an Harmonia song. Besides a bunch of guest musicians the bands core is completed by Gaute Storsve and White Willow's Jacob Holm-Lupo, both on guitar as well as bass, and finally drummer Mattias Olsson of Änglagård fame.

While residing at the Weserbergland border since my birth, this issue attracted my attention in particular, you bet! But, are there even any specific relations to notice concerning krautrock and this region in Germany? Oh yes, there are some. The initial Umsonst & Draussen festivals launched in Vlotho for example. And temporarily, similiar to Kraan residing in Wintrup for some time, the Weserbergland has been a retreat for Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius above all, both representing the band Cluster. This probably might have helped to name the project just like that.

The album shows a very unique flow and flavour. Although some references are given, for me it doesn't sound like blatantly leaning at any well known kraut outfit, fortunately. Thus 'Sehr Kosmisch Ganz Progisch' evolves to a revelation per se for every prog fan, especially when looking for something new and innovative. The particular songs are skillfully weaving diverse music styles and ideas, deriving from different epochs, to something very open minded and experimental. Well, that is mirroring a krautrock spirit, isn't it? Furthermore Mattias Olsson's drum presence is motoric, very special in general.

The approach to combine kosmische electronics and rock music is fulfilled. And so somewhat in the vein of Harmonia, Cluster, Neu! the charming and relaxed Tanzen und Springen - originally an old folk traditional - appears in a cinematic, symphonic manner, decorated with some nice guitar work. Followed by the Gustav Mahler adapted Das Trinklied Vom Jammer Der Erde, starting very melancholic, concerning the mood reminding of Kaukasus, but then provided with a very strong and dynamic flow furthermore. Kunst Der Fuge is picking up the legacy of baroque composer Johann Sebstian Bach with industrial alike implemented drums, partially just like forced by a machine, partially very tricky - a great challenge.

Finally tending to some free formed jazz in between Tristrant spiritually seems longing back to the 12th Century after all, pointing to the love story of Tristan and Iseult, which has been nothing but an emotional rollercoaster affair to them. Musically this is realized in a rather dramatic manner. And no wonder, most of the guest musicians are involved in this song. While taking some episodes from the German cultural history as a template, Ketil Vestrum Einarsen has started something really unusual and precious here with 'Sehr Kosmisch Ganz Progisch'. Krautrock? What else? Maybe for some reason, but if, surely equipped with the prefix Neo.

Norwegian band WESERBERGLAND is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Ketil Vestrum Einarsen, an active musician with a long resume, albeit of the kind often found in liner notes rather than in more prominent, bold letters on an album. With this new venture he steps up as a band leader for the first time, and this debut album was released in the spring if 2017 through Norwegian label Apollon Records.

While I do not find this CD to be a krautrock production in a purebred manner, I do suspect that the main audience for this album will be found in that crowd somewhere. Most likely those among this audience that enjoys an artist with a modern take on old traditions and the inclusion of elements also outside of this specific field. Otherwise many people with an affection for instrumental progressive rock in general should find this album to be a rewarding one I suspect.

When guitarist-producer Jacob HOLM-LUPO (WHITE WILLOW, THE OPIUM CARTEL), flutist-keyboard player Ketil Vestrum EINARSEN (WHITE WILLOW, JAGA JAZZIST, WOBBLER, MOTORPSYCHO), guitarist Gaute STORSVE (RHYS MARSH) and drummer extraordinaire Mattias OLSSON (ÄNGLAGÅRD, PINEFOREST CRUNCH, PÄR LINDH, WHITE WILLOW, THE OPIUM CARTEL, NECROMONKEY) get together to create an album of music in tribute to the Kosmische Music (Krautrock) artists of the 1970s you can bet it's going to be a good one. And it is! Each song on the album is like listening to a drum, keyboard, and guitar clinic. It's as if JAGA JAZZIST and CAN were merged--as if Lars and Martin HORNTVETH were collaborating with Jaki LIEBEZEIT in this, the 21st Century, with all of the gizmos and effects that give 21st Century musicians such versatility and variety. The bass is often keyboard or computer driven, but it works. Mattias' drumming blends computer technologies with the live kit sounds. The keyboard and guitar sounds and techniques used are all over the place. Overall, the music is derivative, yet experimental; it's rhythmic and yet avant; it's militaristic yet psychedelic. It's genius!

1. "Tanzen Und Springen" (9:44) the most melodically memorable song on the album but perhaps the least adventurous. Nice lead guitar work (especially the Todd Rundgren-like work in the ninth and tenth minutes). (9.25/10)

2. "Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde" (15:42) starts off very etheral/ambient before electronic drums and deep synth washes take over. Such a deeply engaging song--definitely one of the highlights of 2016/2017 for me. Even the "copied" Pink Floyd "Time" reverbed rototoms and the Holger Czukay-like radio samples in the last three minutes are wonderful inclusions. (9.75/10)

3. "Kunst Der Fuge" (12:02) AMAZING drums and awesome organ/keyboard work. (9.5/10)

4. "Tristrant" (8:48) with the sound base of a 1980s song by ABC (there's so much of that 80s retro sound going around, why not in Kosmische Musik?) Great synth, winds, and percussion work. I love the cacophonic buildup in the second half and then the slow release toward the end. (9.25/10)

Five stars; a masterpiece of progressive rock music and a brilliant shot in the arm for the resurgent Kosmische Musick scene.

This is the project of Ketil Einarsen probably most known being part of WHITE WILLOW and JAGA JAZZIST but he's played on so many albums over the years. And he's enlisted many of those musicians he's played with to help him out here. Ketil wrote all the music and produced this recording, while playing flute, clarinet, keys, guitar and he adds programmed sounds. His buddy in WHITE WILLOW Jacob Holm-Lupo adds bass and guitar but he also mixed and mastered this album. Many of these musicians have played together. In fact five of these guys play in THE OPIUM CARTEL. Mattias Olsson from ANGLAGARD fame and more adds drums and he's very important to the sound here. Stephen Bennett adds keys and he's from HENRY FOOL, of course there's Lars Fredrik Froislie from WOBBLER adding synths and clavinet. How about Einer Baldursson the guitarist for GOSTA BERLINGS SAGA but also he's played with WHITE WILLOW and NECROMONKEY.

So a Krautrock album from Norway? Well Ketil was introduced to Krautrock in the 90's and fell in love with it. The band's name comes from a very beautiful area of Germany where the mountains and that river create gorgeous scenes. The music reminds me of HARMONIA, LA DUSSELDORF along with some CLUSTER and Eno influences I believe. Lots of higher pitched synths and keys but really the more I have listened to this the more intrigued and impressed I become. It's all instrumental but for some brief vocal melodies from Ketil. This is a homage to the 70's Krautrock scene. What an interesting album and there's so much talent on display here and so many connections.

"Tanzen Und Springen" gets us started and it's percussion and drums at first before a full sound arrives with guitar, keys and more. HARMONIA comes to mind here. It settles down after 2 minutes with bass and more before kicking back in. High pitched sounds after 3 1/2 minutes followed by an interesting sounding guitar solo. I do like that bass 5 minutes in. Drums and percussion like the intro follow after 5 1/2 minutes. A change before 7 minutes as spacey sounds dominate before some atmosphere adds depth. A full sound returns before 8 minutes with guitar, drums and much more. Percussion ends it.

"Das Trinklied Vom Jammer Der Erde" opens with experimental sounds. Interesting stuff as a beat starts to slowly build. Faint sitar can be heard eventually then some dark and melancholic synths arrive changing the mood. It turns louder after 2 1/2 minutes and the drums speed up as we hear mostly drums and synths here. It slows down a minute later before picking back up before 4 minutes. Lots of drums and synths once again. There's so much going on after 5 1/2 minutes. Incredible! Flute before 7 minutes with drums and synths. A calm a minute later as different sounds come and go until it kicks in with power. Nice. Check out that bass before 9 1/2 minutes, then those high pitched synths come to the fore. Love the drumming and guitar before 11 minutes. A dark and spacey calm takes over before 12 minutes and it becomes experimental with some avant Krautrock stuff to the end.

"Kunst Der Fuge" opens with light keys and spacey sounds. Drums and deep sounds join in just after a minute. It then picks up in pace, organ too. That drumming is relentless. Some brief vocal melodies after 3 1/2 minutes but the drums and synths continue to lead the way. Spacey synths 8 1/2 minutes in with the drums and bass standing out. The guitar comes in late then electronics ends it.

"Tristrant" is my favourite. Drums to start as spacey sounds join in. Bass and synths will arrive as well in this catchy soundscape. Man this reminds me of HARMONIA. Love the sound 2 minutes in, it's quite moving for some reason. A change before 3 minutes as it all stops and horns kick in. Back to that previous sound rather quickly though. More of that moving section before 5 minutes. The horns are back 7 minutes in. there's so much going on at this point but it will wind down to the end.

A solid 4 stars and an album that I'll get a lot of mileage out of given how unique it sounds. Well done!

This is the first album of Weserbergland. It is considerably more traditional than their second and third outing. It is as if this is an entirely different group of people entirely.

I can agree that this one is both cosmic and progressive. But firmly rooted in the tradition of what others did before years back.

A very enjoyable listen. These are great compositions and the musicianship is excellent. It is not nearly as adventurous as their later work. That said, it is probably the one that will find more fans.

This is a solid 3 star album for me. It is good. But look for later work of Weserbergland to find the essentials.