Silhouette

For his first solo CD, Harald Frøland (performing as Black Feather) enrolled a number of past and present members of his ex-band Jaga Jazzist: Lars Horntveth, Ivar Chr. Johansen, Lars Wabø, and Ketil Einarsen all make an appearance or two. However, Silhouette is 80-percent Frøland's doing (guitar, bass, keyboards, violin, flute, some percussion and programming, plus the lead vocals — there's nothing the man can't do, it seems). And most of the remaining 20-percent is filled in by Kenneth Lamond's drumming. As Jaga Jazzist's crew plays an ancillary role on the album, so does Jaga Jazzist's music stylings. In fact, the only thing Frøland has retained from the progressive electro-jazz of his past band is a tendency to let arrangements suddenly flourish ("Cool Cloud," the near-symphonic finale of "The Ballad of Ion Thief"). Otherwise, Silhouette is a neo-psychedelic pop affair, reminiscent of the Swedish group Life on Earth!, with a stronger indie rock flavor and a bittersweet note that brings to mind alt metal band O.S.I., oddly enough (something in the vocals and melody of "If You Can't Feel YR Heart," among other songs). Frøland's voice is discreet but pleasant, his melodies catchy, and his arrangements often larger than life, with a typically psychedelic blossoming movement (from inside to outside — soul searching leading to a discovery to be shared with the world). One wishes the vocals were more prominent in the mix, but otherwise this is a very fine debut album. ~ François Couture, Rovi