THE CHRONICLES OF FATHER ROBIN – The Songs and Tales of Airoea – Book 1

Sporting a great moniker and an even greater line-up featuring some of Norway’s most awe-inspiring prog rock musicians from acts such as Wobbler, Tusmørke, and Jordsjø, it goes without saying that this album is something that many of have been looking forward to for some time – me included. High expectations oftentimes lead to disappointment but that is thankfully not the case here, and the six compositions that constitute this wonderfully expressive and vivid musical odyssey are exquisitely crafted and succeed in conveying a strong feeling of something mythological and folkloric. Musically, things range from pastoral and meditative to dramatic and explosive, meaning that it covers quite a bit of ground and feel every bit as dynamic, unpredictable, and thrilling as some of great prog works of the 70s do. Vocalist Andreas Prestmo is absolutely remarkable and shines throughout, everything on the disc is brilliantly arranged and impeccably played, and the output contains more hooky melodies and catchy riffs than I had expected. On top of that, the storyline is quite good and entertaining. An ambitious yet digestible concept LP and a most compelling listen.