Record Reviews

TUSMORKE ~ NORDISK KRIM KARISMA 200 (Barcode: 7090008312000) ~ NORWAY ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2019 - 2020 Released: 2021 This is the sixth album by Norwegian Prog group TusmorkeFind albums by this artist, which consists of twin brothers: vocalist / bassist Benedikt MomrakFind albums by this artist and vocalist / flautist Kristoffer MomrakFind albums by this artist (both playing a plethora of other instruments between them), keyboardist Ivar Haugalokken StangebyFind albums by this artist (also a member of the Norwegian band ActionfredagFind albums by this artist) and drummer Martin Nordrum KneppenFind albums by this artist (also member of the Norwegian Prog group WobblerFind albums by this artist). The 2CD album presents ten original songs, nine of which were written by Benedikt and one by Kristoffer Momrak. With roots back in the mid-1990s and operating under the current moniker since 2009, Tusmorke managed to establish a formidable position on the contemporary European Prog scene, with six excellent Prog albums, one compilation, a couple of children’s albums. an EP and singles, their recorded legacy in just a decade leaves most of their “competition” in the dust. Musically the group decided to make a “fast forward” time jump between the 1970s and 2010s, skipping the dreaded Neo-Prog boredom and simply continuing the Prog idiom from the time it flourished at its peak. The classic instrumentation, magic flute, heavy keyboards and fat bass bottom are all there, combined with lengthy, highly improvised instrumental passages, mythical lyrics and gutsy riffs, sticking to the wisdom of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. The double album offers a diverse tapestry of melody lines, quirky rhythm changes and plenty of surprises while the music is playing, with nostalgic reminiscences of long haired hippies and beautiful gals dancing on the grass. But memories aside, this is Prog or perhaps Folk-Prog at its best, which can be enjoyed with ease and lust for more. The Nordic Folk influences are an obvious influence, which adds another layer to the musical structure. Personally I find the sound of this album a bit too muddled, but this definitely serves the overall atmosphere well. The keyboards are undeniably dominating the proceedings and as much as I love the organ and the Moog, I also enjoy the flute and acoustic guitars, which this time are significantly less present. Notwithstanding, as already mentioned, this is an absolutely delightful and fascinating listening experience. Overall Tusmorke continue to produce consistently excellent albums, time after time, and Prog fans can rely on their output almost blindly, which of course is extremely rare these days. Well done indeed!

Updated: 21/09/2021Posted: 29/04/2021

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