RUPHUS – New Born Day
- Posted on 06-03-2019
Now this is something different and interesting! Norwegian prog rockers Ruphus started out back in the early 70s and this debut offering of theirs, which was originally released in 1973, is a delicious musical treat that blew me away. With nods and parallels to Yes, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, and to a lesser extent Uriah Heep, the Ruphus ensemble takes us on a journey through warm and fuzzy soundscapes where wildly imaginative and clever ideas roam free and we the listeners are left utterly captivated and spellbound. There is class to "New Born Day", but also plenty of space for experimentation and deep-seated exploration. The unit is tight and those lively guitars and infectious vocals are to die for.
The amount of energy that permeates the record is impressive and with dazzling musicianship and marvelous tunes, there is simply no way around the fact that this one is an amazing and timeless piece of work that encompasses and encapsulates everything that makes vibrant and organic 70s prog so goddamn cool and brilliant. In other words, this is a remarkable exercise in musical creativity and joy, and if you are looking for a teaser, make sure you check either the climactic and surreal "Day After Tomorrow" or the sassy "Still Alive" out. On a final note, Gudny Aspaas’ glorious vocals are out of this world and the album’s fluid changes of time and tempo will compel you.