FRIENDSHIP

JUNIPHER GREENE were the first Norwegian band to release a double album, and this is it from 1971. I'm a little shocked to be the first collaborator to review this one only because it's such an incredible recording.The flute, guitar and organ are very impressive throughout this record and I like the vocals as well. Interesting that the vocals are in English yet the detailed liner notes are all in Norwegian unfortunately.

"Try To Understand" is an uptempo track with flute leading early until it's replaced by the vocals and a full sound. Nice guitar after 2 1/2 minutes and the organ floats in and out. More flute later. "Witches Daughter" is mid paced and catchy with vocals. I like the guitar interlude, then back to the vocals and organ. "Music For Our Children" is a psychedelic flavoured, slow moving track with vocal sounds that echo. It kicks in after 2 1/2 minutes and he sounds like John Wetton here.The guitar lets it rip before 4 minutes to the end, and there's two of them !

"A Spectre Is Haunting The Peninsula" has a good heavy intro with organ, vocals a minute in. "Sunrise / Sunset" kicks in with organ right away but it settles some when the passionate vocals arrive.This is great ! Guitar and throbbing bass join in before 2 minutes when the vocals stop. Organ leads the way then the vocals return. "Magical Garden" is laid back with organ that pulses with that beat and bass as the vocals join in. Love this stuff. Guitar to the fore before 1 1/2 minutes. Nice.The vocals return and the guitar continues. Amazing ! The guitar is just killing it 4 minutes in. Harmonica before 5 minutes then it settles back to the end. "Autumn Diary" is mellow with piano, organ and a beat as the vocals join in.

"Maurice" is also a laid back, mid paced track but with the flute leading. "Attila's Belly Dance" is a short drum/organ piece. "Friendship" starts with this 6 minute prelude before we get the almost 20 minute suite to end the recording.The prelude sounds so good to start instrumentally.Vocals before 2 minutes.The suite opens with strummed guitar and organ as the bass and drums join in. Excellent sound here as it builds.The guitar comes to the fore as the organ floats.Vocals after a minute as it settles. It kicks back in at 2 1/2 minutes with the guitar out front. It settles again and this sounds so good.The music simply drifts along as they jam in a laid back manner.Vocals are back before 8 1/2 minutes, flute too. It picks up 10 minutes in.The guitar is on fire 11 1/2 minutes in and it's experimental sounding here as well. Nasty organ 16 minutes in, I mean evil. Drums and organ come in and out. Incredible ! Vocals are back with a calm before 18 minutes.

I'm just really drawn to their sound.There's no mistaking that early seventies flavour. A classic !

A sprawling double-album from Norway of all places, this delightful mixture of hard-edged psychedelia, acid pop and organ-laced progressive flourishes shows that its not just about symphonic music in Scandanavia. Whilst Sweden(Kaipa, The Flower Kings, Anglagard) and Finland(Haikara, Wigwam, Pekka Pohjola) have produced their fair share of progressive acts over the years, fellow nations Denmark and Norway have been pretty quiet. Step forward Junipher Greene. Formed sometime in the late-sixties(their history is hazy at best) 'Friendship', which, incredibly was the groups debut, was issued in 1971 on the Sonet imprint. Little was heard of the album throughout mainland Europe but it did make a bit of splash in the group's homeland thanks to the concerted mixture of jazzy hammond organ, roughneck guitars, playful lyrics and memorable melodies. Now, thanks to modern communication methods(the internet!) Junipher Greene's acid-rock tour-de-force has become something of a cult item, reaching the ears of fans across the globe and it's easy to see(or hear) why. Featuring eighteen tracks spread across almost an hour-long running time, 'Friendship' is some body of work. The overall tone tends to lean more towards meaty psych-rock than complex progressive-style rock, yet several listens do reveal a more measured and intricate approach at play, especially considering that the album's final eight tracks are actually one long interlocking piece. Its also interesting to note that 'Friendship' was actually, or so it is told, the first double-album to emerge from Norway, which, in many cases would showcase a group whose enthusiasm outdoes their experience, but again, this is simply not the case. Virtually every track here sounds like the work of a mature, confident outfit - Norway's own Beatles anyone? - and the fact that 'Friendship' is rarely ever dull is a testament to the bucket-loads of imagination smothered across the album. Picking stand-out tracks is incredibly difficult - there isn't a duff song to be found - yet the catchier, poppier numbers really shine. Of these, the jocular romantic witch tale 'Witches Daughter' is probably the most indelible, featuring a muscular guitar riff overlaying an almost funk-imbued rhythm and some truly funny lyrics regarding jocular occult practices. 'Maurice', a breezy ballad-of-sorts, is also worth mentioning, with lead-singer Helge Groslie putting in another fine display whilst his tightly-wound colleagues groove effortlessly away underneath. Finally, of course, their is the eight-part 'Friendship' itself, an audacious workout that cruises cunningly between playful acoustica and complex noodling, topping off an extremely satisfying album. An absolute must for all fans of progressive rock, 'Friendship' is an outstanding achievement.

STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012

On Friendship Junipher Greene play in a proto-progressive rock style in which the prog genre's roots in psychedelia and the counter-culture are still decidedly evident. From the opening Try to Understand to the end, regular detours into more psychedelic territory occur both instrumentally and lyrically (with the themes of songs ranging from CSNY-style homages to the underground scene and freedom and us all being one to comedic yarns about magic in the form of Witches Daughter). Tending to be rather light-hearted and optimistic, the album earns its prog credentials mainly through the epic final track (Friendship), and through the Ian Anderson-esque flute work of Bent Aserud. A decent listen, though I prefer my heavy prog a little darker.

The early years of progressive rock, the formative years, gives me so much pleasure. If I would dare start counting the progress in the first, oh say, five years between 1967 and 1972, I think that there's so much music made that tried to break out of the mold of rock'n'roll and create a whole new universe. Some of the bands really found their niche (King Crimson, Yes, Caravan, Van der Graaf Generator et al) while others simply floated along nicely, though lacking any real identifiable identity. But then again, that does not mean that the music is less interesting och evocative.

Junipher Greene was a norwegian band, supposedly responsible for producing the first double album in that country. I find that although the band lacks any real identity of their own they did manage to record an album of the most fabolous prog rock in a sort of proto-prog sort of way. Referring to Jethro Tull when there's a presence by the flute has become the butt of a progressive rock joke but I suppose that only goes to show the major impact Ian Anderson made throughout Jethro Tulls half a century (or so) existence. And yes, there's a whole lot of flute on here but it doesn't necessarily sound like Ian Anderson and the music itself lacks the personality of Tull. But themix of blues, rock, folk and jazz makes it an album that rocks and knocks you about in a really nice way.

The opening "Try to understand" is a real hard rock knock in a blues-rock way, giving a lot of room for the flute. "Music for our children" adds a psych-jazz feeling to the mix and "Magical garden" allows the band to stretch out a bit and jam in a jazz-rock fashion. I love all songs on the album but I guess you all understand that the real prize is the epic title track, clocking in at 26 minutes.

I could talk for hours about this track. It is wonderful. The ideas within are maybe not the most demanding or challenging but it's like a really good meal where every dish adds to the experience. The track holds every kind of musical expression that Junipher Greene attempted and they managed to hit it off. They really did. Passionate vocals, great organ and jazzy playfulness amidst a plethora of blues and rock expressions. Amazing!

The whole album is warm, accessible yet challenging in a sort of melodic way where everything just falls into place. This album has become a staple of mine and every time I find myself smiling, feeling good and relaxed. You won't find the intricacies of Yes or Gentle Giant here but you will find extremely well played and thought through progressive rock. While it's not an essential purchase I do think it's an excellent addition to any decent collection.