Hypnagogia
Apollon, 2023
9/10
The 3rd album from the Scandinavian progressive heroes Pixie Ninja, the 7 tracks here illustrate their instrumental, abstract and creative vision with a bigger presence than ever.
“Thanatosis” gets the listen off to a dense start, where hard hitting drums and swirling guitars welcome Jørgen Munkeby’s soaring sax to the calm versus loud dynamics, and “Silver Paper Unicorns” follows with a dreamy appeal that’s heavy on mood via a cinematic draw.
“Dance Macabre” and “Ora Antarctica” land in the middle, where the former is a melodic and radiant version of post-rock meets indie-rock that buzzes amid wordless vocals, while the latter moves with a slow burning, hazy pace of strategic prog-rock nods in a very intimate climate.
The last track, “Oneironaut”, is a bit darker in scope, and comes in waves of mystery, beauty and ambitious, flowing instrumentation that’s nothing short of meticulous.
Pixie Ninja consists of Marius Leirånes, Jostein Haugen and Mattias Olsson, and if you haven’t familiarized yourself with their superb brand of prog-rock you really are missing out, cause few people are doing it this well, currently.
Travels well with: Spirit Tomb- Spiritus Lacrimarum: Dolorem in Lacrimas Efundere; Strange Horizon- Skur 14