Airbag: Disconnected

Toiling somewhere in between modern day Marillion, Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree, Anathema, Radiohead, Blackfield, Riverside, and Pink Floyd, Airbag's fourth album Disconnected is sure to strike a chord with fans who lean to the more atmospheric, pop flavored side of the progressive rock fence. The Norwegian's pull the listener right in with the opening 9-minute cut "Killer", as bubbling keyboards support tasty guitar work from Bjørn Riis (who nails some of those David Gilmour tones) all while the lyrical message is delivered quite emotionally by Asle Tostrup. Hazy acoustic & electric guitars, shimmering keys, and floating vocals seep into the alluring "Broken", a more laid back and mesmerizing tune with some cool melodies, while the slow-simmering "Slave" builds to a dramatic conclusion with some splendid guitar solos. That thick atmosphere again permeates the prog/pop of "Sleepwalker", and it's becoming apparent just how well this band is able to layer in the acoustic guitar strums with some tasty electric solos and swirling organ & synths. The band goes for their epic statement on the 13-minute title track, but as is the case throughout this album, it's not all about complex '70s styled prog here, instead they rely on that 'light/shade' balance, here with gentle rhythms, piano, and synths slowly giving way to heavier riffs and sinewy guitar leads before the calming passages come back into play. The reflective "Returned" closes things out in emotional fashion, a mostly instrumental piece save for some brief vocals towards the end, which allows the listener to drift off into the sunset with the band, ending Disconnected on a rather mellow note.

Much of Disconnected was written after Riis had made a decision in his life to to walk away from his 9-5 office job to spend more time with his family and music career, and you can pretty much feel that newfound sense of purpose & discovery throughout the album. There are some great melodies to be found here, and while at times the band seem stuck in first or second gear, the instrumentation is crisp, clear, and concise, the band preferring to slowly build on the atmosphere & emotion rather than completely rock out and move into cliched prog rock territory. Well done.

Track Listing
1. Killer
2. Broken
3. Slave
4. Sleepwalker
5. Disconnected
6. Returned

Added: August 6th 2016
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 3907
Language: english

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