PROFESSOR TIP TOP – Lanes of Time

The amazing Norwegian prog rockers Professor Tip Top are one of the greatest outfits this country has ever produced, and their latest album entitled “Lanes of Time”, which was released in late 2021, most definitely deserves a brief mention on these hallowed pages of ours.

Eclectic and atmospheric prog rock with a heartfelt touch to it is what mastermind Sam Fossbakk and his talented cohorts offer, and there is something unique and original to their sound and the way in which they convey emotions and transform them into audio sequences. As playful and breezy as it is at times, there is an underlying current of melancholy slivering underneath it all, and vocalist Sonja Otto does a magnificent job bringing that particular feeling to life throughout these nine compositions. Everything sounds so effortless here, and the way in which the songs evolve is incredibly organic. The strength of the melodies, the warm and vibrant production, the crunchy guitars, the flashes of 60s psychedelic rock, and the brilliant interplay between the musicians are a wonderful thing to behold, and although there are a few subtle nods to the prog giants of the 70s present on the disc, “Lanes of Time” comes across as something that exists in a time and sphere of its own. Personal favorites include “Falling into the Sun”, “Island of the Sirens”, and closing track “Time Is” – all of which are hauntingly beautiful – but the truth is that there is nothing but captivating tunes to be found here. Highly recommended if you are into progressive and/or psychedelic rock.