Langtidsperspetiv
Apollon, 2021
9/10
A member of Norway’s prog-rock sensations Pixie Ninja, here Marius Leiranes brings us his first solo effort, where his prog roots are in the company of electronic and ambient textures that relay stories from his ancestral heritage on a farm near the arctic.
“Begynnelser” starts the listen with plenty of ambience as bare percussion and spacey synth help build the climate into a busier display of cinematic swells of grace and adventurousness, and “Amerika” follows with a hypnotic quality where playful drumming and experimental electronics cultivate a highly unique landscape.
The middle track, “Isen pa Bukta”, spends 4 minutes mesmerizing us with its dreamy, and, later on, bright version of post-rock, while “Granatsjokk” brings us right back to the ‘80s with its buzzing synth and hazy display of precisely textured ideas. “1959” exits the listen, and showcases calm ebbs of beauty as well as fuller moments of club friendly sounds that bleep and bloop with an intricate and lively energy.
Much like the climate on the farm, which is dark half the year and light the other half, this debut album covers a wide array of moods and tones, from turbulent to relaxed, and though we’d never want Pixie Ninja to come to a halt, let’s hope that Leiranes has more solo work on the horizon, as he’s creative enough for multiple outlets.
Travels well with: Pymlico- On This Day: Fatal Fusion- Dissonant Minds