THE HUMBLE POET

The opening track is 'New Ship', this is an excellent track starting with what sounds like a Hammond organ coming in, this is followed by some great guitar and bass. There's a fairly fast rhythm, nice combination/interaction between keyboards and guitar. Great vocals from Per, whose voice just fits in this type of music perfectly. There's a superb rhythm, some stunning guitar work. There's also a slight jazz element to this track. Later there's some superb bass and keyboards. The next track is 'The Humble Poet', probably my favourite track on the album. The opening sequence is very similar to a GENTLE GIANT track called 'Wreck'. It's not exactly the same, but there are similarities between the two. But putting that aside, this is a stunning track. The opening riff comes in builds up to a climax then changes direction. The mood then quietens down with what I can only describe as a low-key kind of buzzing Hammond organ (you would have to hear it, to know what I mean). Per's vocals take on the melody and then after a short while the band come back in . This track has just been put together wonderfully with just hints occasionally of acoustic guitar, bells, and wind effects and some nice harmonies. There's also a superb guitar solo and a great melody. (it's quite difficult to get past this track as you just want to keep pressing repeat). The third track 'Shadowlands' starts off fairly quietly with some nice acoustic guitar followed by some excellent electric guitar. Great vocals. There are occasional moments of some heavier guitar work with some stunning lead. There are many times within this track when the music changes direction. This is another great track. The next track is 'And Then She Flies' and to be honest I just don't know what to make of it. It starts with some great classical, even medieval sounding acoustic guitar, nice soft vocals from Per. It sounds like quite a sad song.

But when Per is singing...

" softly with careful feet she flies - vaguely wobbly carefully stepping forward she tries - vaguely wobbly......"

When he's singing the words 'vaguely wobbly', it just makes me laugh. So I am not quite sure if this is supposed to be a serious song or whether those words where put in, to make us laugh. 'On The Seventh Day', starts with a bass note being played followed by some atmospheric keyboards in the background and some intricate guitar work over the top. This then slowly builds up to a climax and stays there. The music carries on with some emotional vocals from Per. Great riff and wonderful keyboards.

The sixth track 'Hi There', superb keyboards, very heavy bass and some superb guitar. Again this track has a great riff, but it is quite similar to the last track. Per's vocals on this track have more of a raw feel to them. The next track 'Anyway', a nice track with some nice acoustic guitar is quite reminiscent of an early PINK FLOYD track. The eight track which has no title is atmospheric/ambient keyboards effects lasting just 22 sec. The next track 'The Critic' has some great guitar and keyboards. There's a great rhythm and some excellent Rhodes piano reminding me a little of SUPERTRAMP. Stunning guitar solo. Track 10 is 'Thanks', nice track with acoustic guitar, nice keyboards and great vocals. There's some fine flute and quite a nice melody. This track fades and finishes at 3:18. There is then silence for approx 2 minutes (unless you can fast forward to 5:20 then a hidden track emerges.

I would take it the track it called 'Alakazoo, Alakazaa', you will find the word to this song in the middle of the booklet you get with the CD. This is a strange track really. It starts off very slow and dreamy, the kind of thing you could imagine listening to on a romantic night with your girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband or being played as the last dance. You know the type of thing except for a few moments when it gets slightly heavier. Nice guitar an keyboards and some excellent whammy bar!!

But then suddenly the music changes direction becoming very Pink Floydish with some 'Echoes' type keyboards and nice guitar work over the top. Then it comes back a little heavier with some more vocals from Per. Excellent bass and drums. Nice intricate guitar work and some superb keyboards, followed by a stunning guitar solo. Boy, this is great stuff!! The track then fades to some mellow keys and a single guitar chord coming in right at the end.

Well, as you can probably guess already, I think this is just SUPERB!!

FIG LEAF seem to me to have taken the best elements from progrock in the early seventies, added their own style and brought it right up to date for the nineties. If that makes any sense. A wonderful album, I just can't stop playing it. This is my album of the year so far. (I know it was released last year, but it's the best album I have heard this year.). This is a must for all lovers of Progrock, PINK FLOYD, GENTLE GIANT.

FIG LEAF were a four piece band out of Norway who released three studio albums during the second half of the 90's. The debut called "Hum" that is shown on the site here is when they were called FIG LEAF MUSEUM, so it's cool to have that included here. Their first proper album is from 1995 called "Plays Bob W. And Other Selections" and was apparently a low budget affair but I haven't heard it. Next was "The Humble Poet" from 1997 where they get some backing and studio time resulting in a very solid, hard rocking record for the most part.

I was surprised though when I saw they were listed under Prog Metal here as this comes across more as a Heavy Prog record. After seeing that though I spun it a couple of more times, and sure the vocals bring Metal to mind and sometimes the music, but this feels more rooted in the 70's. "New Ship" the opener is getting close to Proto Prog territory with that organ driven sound and this is fast paced. Not typical of the rest of the album, and really this is not a good start to this recording. There's a nice heavy sound to that title track and they contrast the mellow with that very well. Some uplifting moments here too.

"Shadowlands" is a favourite for the tone of the guitar. "On The Seventh Day" is another highlight, and it has it all really. Love the bass and that guitar solo, and it's uplifting here as well. "Hi There" is the most metal sounding track in my opinion. "The Critic" might be my favourite for the heaviness and again it clicks with me emotionally and is quite uplifting. More of that great sounding bass as well. The album ends with "Thanks" just over 3 minutes worth then silence before a 9 minute hidden track shows up. The hidden song is pleasant along with "Thanks" being very laid back with flute.

The vocals do bring this down some but that's more to do with that opening track. Still, I have to go 4 stars for this emotionally charged album. Released in 1997 which was a tough year for our music. 1997 was a surprisingly strong year for the Norwegians. I mean they run the show these days but here's four really good records back when times were tough for Norway, including "The Humble Poet" along with IN THE WOODS... "Omnio", TANGLE EDGE's "Tarka" and THE SMELL OF INCENSE's "Through The Gates Of Deeper Slumber". Add the three amazing albums from Sweden and these two nations dominate my 1997 list.