TUSMØRKE – Dawn of Oberon

With Norwegian prog rockers Tusmørke you never quite know what you are going to get, but one thing that you can count on is that they are going to fry your brain and offer something that is musically eclectic, unique sounding, perfectly charming, and outright quirky. Such is the case with Dawn of Oberon, which weaves its psychedelic and proto-prog influences together to great effect while simultaneously infusing the compositions with the group’s very own charisma and dynamics. It is lovely to discover that these chaps sound as devoted to their craft as ever, and the playful nature of the album’s six songs is utterly appealing. The warmth that envelops the material and the strength of the riffs and melodies make for a hugely rewarding listen, and there is an otherworldly vibe to the LP that is somehow both energetic and comfortable. Addictive might be an apt phrase with respect to that. Inspired by early 70s prog yet taking things so much further and twisting things into something that could only ever be a Tusmørke opus, Dawn of Oberon is bound to please and excite old and new fans alike. For the record, “Dwarven Lord” is one of their most engaging tunes to date, which is saying something. As to the album as a whole, we might as well conclude that it is original, beguiling, and well-written in its entirety, and you hardly need any other information than that, right?