Fire Fortellinger
Karisma, 2023
8/10
The first solo album from Wobbler’s Lars Fredrik Frøislie, the 4 detailed pieces are steeped very much in ‘70s prog-rock ideas, where Nikolai Hængsle plays several types of bass, and Frøislie handles many different instruments.
“Rytter av dommedag” opens the listen with warm piano and a dreamy spirit, where thick bass and spacey exploration allow the tune to build into a dense prog-rocker that’s cinematic and soaring, and “Et sted under himmelhvelvet” follows with an initially intimate landscape that emits buzzing and meticulous patterns that benefits much from the throbbing bass lines.
The back half welcomes the very playful “Jærtegn”, which slips into bare, minimal areas before cultivating a very melodic and reflective tone, while “Naturens katedral” exits with waves of thicker bouts versus calm beauty.
Frøislie plays Ludwig trommer, Paiste cymbaler, vokal, Hammond C3 med Leslie 147, Mellotron M400, Minimoog Model D, Chamberlin M-1, Hohner Clavinet D6, Yamaha CP70B, William de Blaise spinett, Arp Pro Soloist, Arp Axxe, Solina String Ensemble, Tremoloa, Rhodes mkII, Wurlitzer 200, and blokkfløyte here, and it makes for a raw, unprocessed and impulsive display of one takes from a luminary in the area of modern prog-rock.
Travels well with: Wobbler- Dwellers Of The Deep; Meer- Playing House