Kornmo: Vårjevndøgnsnatt

The Scandinavians love their instrumental prog. Another case in point: Kornmo. The band has released four albums since 2017, each one better than the rest. Their most recent, Vårjevndøgnsnatt, consists of four epics that have moments of absolute pastoral-like beauty combined with exquisite keys and occasional powerful riffing.

The band has had a consistent lineup throughout its career: Odd-Roar Bakken (guitar and keyboards), Anton J. R. Larsen (drums and percussion), and Nils Larsen on bass. While there are no vocals, the music conjures up images of folktales, as it takes you on trips to familiar, peaceful places. I can’t immediately think of comparable artists or bands, but at times I am reminded of mid-70s Mike Oldfield (Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn) and Anthony Phillips, especially the nearly 37-minute title track off his 1996 album with Guillermo Cazenave, The Meadows of Englewood.

I think Vårjevndøgnsnatt probably would have benefited from some trimming here and there. Also, the pastoral and the powerful could have been better integrated. Too often those elements seem like they artificially separated. But I have no problem listening to the album straight through, all 74 minutes of it. It easily deserves four stars and comes highly recommended for those who sometimes seek out the lighter side of prog.

Track Listing
1. Sendebud fra vest (17:44)
2. Huldras hale (19:24)
3. Den dype skogen (15:40)
4. Altets hav, Ly (21:17)

Added: January 8th 2025
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 371
Language: english

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