KORNMO – Vårjevndøgnsnatt

I am rather fond of this talented act’s previous records and find them engaging and beautifully crafted affairs that balance the epic and the intimate in a splendid manner. Vårjevnsdøgnsnatt is their fourth opus and sees them taking their instrumental symphonic prog to new heights in terms of sheer melodic strength and cohesion. Clocking in at nearly seventy-four minutes and consisting of five compositions (four of which are lengthy journeys) means that this is one of those intricate and interesting albums that demands and requires focus and attention on the part of the listener but mark my words that you will be rewarded accordingly. Although an instrumental opus, there is a theme and a narrative to the whole endeavor that ties everything together rather neatly, and I think we can alle agree that there is a certain charm to records where all aspects of it complement each other, right?

Vårjevndøgnsnatt is strangely epic in a rather subtle way; it feels and sounds wide in scope but the gentle and soothing acoustic guitars, the sonorous and pleasant melodies, and the pace of the songs make for a rather relaxing listening experience in the overall perspective. That is not to say that there are not heavy and bombastic outbursts to be found – look no further than “Den Dype Skogen” and to a lesser extent “Altets Hav” for proof – and variety is neither absent nor lacking throughout. Although one could argue that the disc holds few surprises and is very similar to its three predecessors, it is simply so solid and elegantly arranged that it deserves to be explored and enjoyed by all lovers of prog rock out there, and it possesses a sense of mysticism that is pretty alluring and attractive. Personally, I am thrilled that I got my hands on the digipak version as the booklet and its illustrations and essays are essential if one wishes to properly embark on this musical odyssey and truly get the gist of what these gentlemen are all about.