ZERO ACTS 3&4

LAUGHING STOCK are a veteran trio out of Norway in fact two of the guys have known each other and been making music together since they were 12. Playing in different bands over the years this trio got together to release their first studio album under the name LAUGHING STOCK in 2018. It's been five albums in five years all about a boy named Zero who now at album number five has become a young man. On the back cover it says "Years have gone by, and Zero has become a young adult. But when you feel like a zero, invisible even to yourself, what does the future have in store for you? Society has no place for non-contributors, people who don't produce, create or communicate. Such people seem to inhabit a world of their own. A world mostly lived inside their own minds, surrounded by four walls and not much more. This is the world in which we find young Zero when the story continues."

The music is listed under Neo-Prog here which is fine but with a name like LAUGHING STOCK we do get a TALK TALK vibe with the music being spacey and drifting and the vocals mostly relaxed and laid back. Lots of atmosphere, this is dreamy. On my first listen I was actually caught off guard with how much I liked it especially that opener which thankfully is reprised as a bonus track to end the album. LIKE WENDY might be a good reference but this band employs more sounds along with several guests contributing as well. Nad Sylvan sings the vocals on "The Call" while we get some really good female vocals on "Familiar Eyes". Violin on a couple of tunes plus guest guitar on "Running Faster". I have a top four!

The opener I already mentioned and it will be one of my favourite tracks from 2022. "Wingless" and this is dreamy and atmospheric with vocals to match. Just an amazingly good song and it does kick in with some power after 1 1/2 minutes. There's that three track run to close out my top four with tracks 7 to 9. "Running Faster" is trippy with sad vocals. An emotional and uplifting tune. There's an interesting guitar solo from our guest then the vocals return. "Familiar Eyes" with those great female vocals. She does vocal melodies as well. Very dreamy once again. Beautiful song.

"Mother" is the longest at 10 1/2 minutes and man I just realized we're 5 minutes from Mother's day and my mom is in the hospital and it doesn't look good. Her mind is going quickly too complicating everything. The song starts out as this incredible rock track. Just so surprising to hear them go in this direction and do it so well. A dark and urgent start. A melancholic calm after 2 minutes and again a minute later but with piano as well. Soaring guitar before 5 minutes as the vocals step aside. A ton of atmosphere follows then it turn powerful before 6 1/2 minutes. It gets even heavier before turning light with some banjo late.

I gotta go 4 stars here. I just like their sound.