FARLIG VANDRING

Panzerpappa is one of the finest RIO/Avant bands out there currently, these guys have strong influences from bands like Univers Zero and Samla Mammas Manna, and together with the band's amazing musicianship there's no doubt that these guys are something to really check out. The music can best be described as modern Symphonic RIO with very eclectic instrumentation. This album, the band's third release "Farlig Vandring", is just like that. This stuff is extremely complex, very progressive and avoids the "repeating ourselves" trap (something that many other bands have failed) with elegance; It's very fresh sounding and original with other words, and the melodies are excellent. It's really hard to pick out a favorite track here since the album is quite even overall, except for a few very experimental improv sections here and there but that will most likely grow on you. As I said earlier, the musicianship is amazing; every band member is masters of their instruments and the instruments never overshadows themselves plus that there isn't any showcasing from the band here though the music remains mind-boggingly complex. Really great stuff overall!

While their two first releases "...passer gullfisk" and "Hulemysteriet" are out of print (they were only released as CD-r's actually), "Farlig Vandring" is the first Panzerpappa album to be released on a real record label. Still, it's very hard to find sue to it's low distrubution, but if you are a lover of this genre and find this one, then definitely pick it up. Highly recommended, especially for RIO/Avant fans!

I was introduced to Panzerpappa in 2005 when a friend lend me this album. At the time I still haven't started to appreciate the RIO/Avant-Prog genre all that much. Still, I gave the album a spin.

The music I experienced on Farlig Vandring sounded nothing like I've heard before. There were a few similarities to the early Henry Cow music thanks to the prominent sound of saxophones that made the performances sound slightly jazz-oriented in tone although the music structures themselves were far from any jazz recording that I've experienced to that point.

After returning the CD to my friend I haven't really given Panzerpappa much thought until last year when I rediscovered the band's music through their album Koralrevens Klagesang on Spotify. Since I was really into the band Miriodor at the time it made me want to seek out Farlig Vandring and give it a proper chance. I must have given up all hope of finding this album until I, by complete accident, stumbled upon a used copy of it in one of the down town record stores.

It's safe to say that the music I heard this time around sounded nothing like the Panzerpappa I heard back in 2005! This compositions felt much better structured then I originally gave them credit for and the saxophone sound felt a whole lot more enjoyable. I was especially taken by the two 10 minute compositions Ellipsoidisk Karusell and Ompapaomompapa that have the energetic feel that I usually associate with Univers Zero's compositions like Docteur Petiot and Dense. Simply put; some of the best RIO/Avant-Prog music that I've had the pleasure of hearing!

It's actually a pity that non of the shorter compositions can compete with those two magnificent performances since I really feel that Farlig Vandring comes close to an essential piece of Progressive Rock music but doesn't really break through that barrier. Hence a rating of excellent addition to any prog rock music collection is in order here.

***** star songs: Ellipsoidisk Karusell (10:41) Ompapaomompapa (9:43)

**** star songs: Farlig Vandring (På Tynt Vann) (8:32) Utrygge Trøfler (7:06) Agraphia (6:56) Sykkelgnomflaten (6:55)

4.5 stars. Norway's PANZERPAPPA had humble beginnings to say the least, starting life as the idea of drummer Trond Gjellum in the summer of 1996. Trond made up the name PANZERPAPPA feeling that his personal name was too boring. The problem was he couldn't find any like-minded musicians who were into the music of those classic Rio/Avant/Canterbury bands he loved. So he shelved it.

The following year Trond was asked to participate in a band who wanted to play in a festival that had the theme of the Lord Of The Rings. It was just one show, but during the rehearsals for it he found out that Steinar Borve who was a keyboardist/sax player was also into SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA, HENRY COW and UNIVERS ZERO. So they agree to collaborate down the road and early in 1998 PANZERPAPPA came into existence as the two of them add a guitarist and bass player, and eventually release their debut in 2000. Clearly the two additions to this band weren't as "into" the music they were playing, as neither would last until this third album, released in 2004 called "Farlig Vandring".

It was while playing with Richard Sinclair of all people that Trond asked the bass player and the guitarist of that band about joining PANZERPAPPA, and they agreed. The bass player Anders Krabberod was a huge VDGG fan along with other like minded bands and some modern composers. He's playing 4 and 5 string fretted basses, and a ten string Chapman stick here. We also get guitarist Jarle Storlokken was into jazz and prog. We have a four piece now that would last. And this their first release together is in my opinion their best. But this album along with the next two recordings they would release are my three favourites. The first one after those three is called "Pestrottedans" from 2016 where they expanded to a five piece, and I felt that it was a step down from the previous three.

It's Christmas! D-Day, where God sent his Son to rescue planet earth. I love this day and wanted something special to review. I have been on an Avant binge for many months but that is coming to a close really soon. I wanted to pick something from what I had left to review that was positive and happy but also lights-out good. It was an easy choice. So many people call this happy music. And yes I mentioned Richard Sinclair earlier and he would guest singing on PANZERPAPPA's next release after this called "Koralrevins Klagesang" from 2006. Great record and the first ever from Norway that I bought. I have several more now(haha).

I've been re-spinning this all last week, and what a pleasure. This is jazzy avant music that is just so positive. This is like SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA in mood, but I like this better than any of the brilliant albums from that Swedish band. We get two guest violinists adding their talents to that second track, which is the longest at over 10 1/2 minutes. And a vibes player guests on two tracks. We get six tracks and just under 50 minutes.

And yes I have a top three. The self-titled opener is great the way they repeat themes. Very melodic and I really like the sound of the sax, bass and drums here. The guitar and mellotron also add a lot. "Troubling Truffles" the third song is different from the rest. I like the guest vibes along with the organ and that urgent rhythm section. Final top three is the fifth track "The Bicycle Gnome Bug". Especially the rhythm section, I mean the bass is awesome here. The rhythm section stops being the focus 2 1/2 minutes in as it turns fuller, then back to the rhythm section and mellotron 4 minutes in.

Love the cover art. Love the music. I find it interesting that guitarist Jarle Storlokken was not only on this 2004 release but he also played on the final FRUITCAKE record "Man Overboard" also from 2004. It was a great day today!