ELDBERG

If your a retro music fan stop! ELDBERG, a five piece from Iceland, have so far delivered two pretty good slices of early seventies sounding prog. This is their debut from 2011, and we last heard from them in 2015. This is powerful, organ led music much of the times with a singer who can bring it. He would represent Iceland in the Eurovision contest two years after this record was released. The organ and vocals do bring DEEP PURPLE to mind, but to my ears it's almost a coincidence, not that they are all DEEP PURPLE fans. They name-check symphonic and proto prog bands as influences for the most part. These guys have been into their dad's music!

I was surprised this was released on Mylodon Records a label I'm very acquainted with out of Chile. Oh, and there's some guest sax on one track. A tidy little 42 minute record with seven tracks, including the epic closer at almost 15 minutes. I love that there's this little jazzy section on this one, lots of contrasts and repeated themes. They just change things up, like the wordless vocals and determined sound. Some fast paced picking with that guitar then check out that rebel scream that the singer holds onto like Ian Gillan might have some 40 years earlier.

That vocal prowess is also heard on the previous track during the final minute. These two songs really showcase his voice. The sax is late on track two and it's okay, it adds another flavour I suppose. That second track is where I'm thinking the singer sounds Swedish as he sings in his own language throughout. There's even a short section of processed vocals. I like that on the fifth track the vocalist sings in a reserved manner bringing that SOLAR PLEXUS singer to mind, and especially the song "My Song Is For Her" that I like so much.

This is a really good album and band that Iceland I'm sure is proud of(at least the singer no?). 4 stars for this one.