THE GUARDIAN'S OFFICE

The Guardian's Office, what a nice name for a prog band, the art work aswell is excellent, is a side project of Fruitcake drummer Pal Sovik. The band is from Norway nad released so far a single album in 2002 self titled. Besides Sovik, there are another top musicians involved here, 2 members from Wobbler, Morten Andreas Eriksen and Tony Johannessen plus female bassist Froydis Maurtvedt. So, what about the music, it sounding like is was composed in mid '70, recalling heavy prog bands like Uriah Heep, Blakulla, Rag y Riggen, even Wobbler or Fruitcake ,etc with that specific nordic atmosphere on all pieces. The passages are from heavy riffs combined in excellent way with keyboards and acustic guitar parts, always intresting, sometimes slow and plodding, sometimes little more up tempo, but always great. Theare some great and inventive instrumental sections on all pieces, even an instrumental track named Office Of Hard Cash, really good. I like aswell very much the vocal arrangements, Tony Johannessen voice is quite strong, I like the tone, deep , sad, perfect for such music, the perfect example is the slow dark piece Dark Girl. The guardian is another highlight, flute and keyboards are fantastic. All in all I really like what I've heared here, is quite little known in prog circles, I think it desearves more. A catchy prog album with a fantastic art work. 4 stars for sure.