Zero, Acts 1 & 2
Apollon, 2021
8/10
The progressive and unconventional Norwegian trio Laughing Stock have yet to disappoint me, and Zero continues their inviting and absorbing brand of rock with another concept album about a boy named Zero, who resides with his troubled mother and hides in a world of video games and isolation.
“Welcome” starts the listen with no shortage of melody as soft singing and textured beauty that leads into the mysterious atmosphere of “When Darkness Comes”, where a subdued approach of eloquent, dreamy rock unfolds with much detail.
Closer to the halfway point, the soothing synth of “School” flows amid jangly acoustic guitar as a playful folk approach enters, while “Child” recruits piano and strings for a hazy, slow burning album highlight that’s full of sublime beauty. “My Love, Part 1”, then unfolds with a poetic quality as an emotive, nearly cathartic delivery of artistic song craft.
“Zero” and “Curtain Falls” finish the listen, where the former weaves in and out of prog-friendly layers of restraint and the latter is a brief, pretty execution of cautious, elegant and relaxing song writing.
This installment only tells half of Zero’s story, and we should expect the remaining acts later this year, which, of course, means more greatness that’s somewhere between pop, prog and folk rock.