Fearless

This Norwegian band knows rock, prog rock, digging deep into classic rock roots, and brings out a strange blend of dreams. You hear that late 60s, hippie-flower-power groove but with more crunch and overdrive. Strains of sax and warbling keys recall early Traffic but bass and guitars style say King Crimson. Flute and stream-of-thought vocals recall Eric Burdon and the Animals. Angst-ridden, dark vox reflect Parmenter's Discipline. Song flow and sudden changes say Blue Oyster Cult in places. The monster-size title track, "Fearless," runs a full 31:00. This eight part cut, alone, is a pivotal work. Think of what the Who did with Tommy or Quadrophenia. It is a curious tour de force piece that pulls you in and tells an enigmatic tale. It is so very '70s, this extended musical pilgrimage into Fig Leaf's "secret place" of the soul. If you like your nostalgia mixed with new blood and brutally fresh visions * check out Fig Leaf. Aag Skar is guitar, Per Flaa is bass/vocals, Paal Iversen does drums/perc., and Gunnar Berg rounds it all out on keys/guitar/sax/flute and vocals. They do sing in English. ~ John W. Patterson, Rovi