MetroGnom - Twangyluck

METROGNOM is a progressive ensemble from Norway, not the brightest, so far, to dazzle and intrigue, still interesting and powerful as long as progressive rock, in all its modern condition, is regarded as an endless treat of music, mixed styles or rock fever.
The band was formed in 2002 (in the Norwegian city Bodo), but only recently did they achieved to sum up a debut (and a line of first compositions), one not very similar with everything modern prog and "new rock" enlists, thus keenly special. The core line-up of METROGNOM was made of five artists: Ole Ivar Jorgensen as guitarist and Mellotronist, Kriss Stemland as keyboardist, pianist and organ player, Steffan Hundstad on bass, Stig Rune Holien as drummer and Arne Wikstrom as saxophonist. Hundstand left however, right after the recordings were finished, being replaced by Lars Einar Christensen. Keyboardist and electronic effects mixer Jakob Arntzen is regularly invited to play with the rock quintet, at live occasions. Also notable is that Jakob Arntzen and Ole Ivar Jorgensen formed a side project called Mouches Volantes, which bares the same swish as METROGNOM.
The band's list of influences and similarities in music, rock and prog can be a bit overwhelmingly denoted, practically used or negligently connected with what's the flame and the texture of the musical fiber (when, in fact, such mentions tend to disconnect it from METROGNOM's own value and stand-up precision. Nevertheless, it looks like a basic and biographical fact, plus, sometimes, it helps to see the modern (or retro) prog vitality that this ensemble uses or appends under its "new art". METROGNOM itself states influences from the mighty GENESIS, KING CRIMSON, GENTLE GIANT, CAMEL or from AKASHA and GOBLIN. Surprisingly, they also seem amazed enough by the difficult art of GROBSCHNITT, HOST, COSMIC JOKERS, NOVALIS or PULSAR, so to name them as well. This said, music sounds sometimes so differently, that critics and impressions rate "Twangyluck" as a modern rock fusion, via OZRIC TENTACLES, old sense space rock, a la PINK FLOYD or HAWKWIND, heavy alternative, as in something close to PORCUPINE TREE, concentrated pop rock, likewise WHITE WILLOW, or a sparkling symphonic hum, thinking quite many times of WOBBLER.
Deep or dizzy, METROGNOM plays in "Twangyluck" rock, jazz, jam, space and pop belted under the sign of a conceptual, purely instrumental and extremely concentrated composition. There are only four pieces, but they're all epic and rarely have a constant rhythm and pleasure. The band could have a special weakness for electronic or smoky keyboard (and electric sound) effects, but, mainly, everything is a forceful arrangement of vintage and greedily new keyboard melodies. Emotions get less insinuated than those moment of pure riffing and improvisation, still everything is based on a concept of striding expressions. "Twangyluck" becomes a difficult album when it faces a sum of themes and synthesized composition, a strange art when its heaviness also bears the remark of a scorching empty sensibility pash, and a popular progressive music, once some conceptual ideas are washed away by weird blends and unresting agitations.

Ole Ivar Joregensen / Guitars, Mellotron, Theremin, Sax squeals, Mini Moog, Sound FX, Words
Stig-Rune Holien / Drums, Percussion
Kriss Sternland / Hammond organ, Piano, Mini Moog, Synthesizers
Arne Wikstrom / Saxophone, Akai synstesizer Woodwinds
Steffan Hunstad / Bass