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"Lovers of melancholic and melodic atmospheres, don't miss this little gem. "False Memory Archive", with its carefully crafted atmospheres, is the kind of album you don't want to take off your player"
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5/5
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The Norwegian trio Oak has already released an album in digital format five years ago ("Lighthouse") and comes back at the end of 2018 with a new opus ("False Memory Archive"), integrating a second guitarist in its formation, and enjoying once again the presence of a luxury guest in the person of guitarist Bjorn Riis (Airbag).
The proximity with Airbag is quite obvious. On this album, there is a very Norwegian melancholy also found with Gazpacho or Nordagust (or even with the Swedes from Anglagard), evoking autumn, humidity and mist during a walk in the forest in a warm coat. The carefully woven atmospheres slowly creep into the mind, centered around the "Intermezzo" which takes up the first part of Claude Debussy's famous "Clair de Lune". If the finesse of the arrangements and a certain discretion in the vocal interpretation recall the excellent "Essence" of Addiction Dream, Oak is also inspired by Anathema ('Psalm') or presents some post-rock elements (the intro 'We, the Drowned', the most dynamic track). The arrangements are often minimalist ('Transparent Eyes' with its intimate and sad ending), but the band knows how to pose surprising oriental sounds ('Claire de Lune') or a sax that cries and howls like a wounded animal, witness the excellent 'Lost Causes' with its sudden lulls, to which the only reproach will be its bland ending.
If Simen Valldal Johannessen's vocal performance appears rather neutral, it actually participates in the general melancholic atmosphere, as he does not hesitate to use a very low voice ('Lost Causes') or even a spoken voice ('The Lights', whose beginning surprisingly evokes Haken's 'Nocturnal Conspiracy'). The tracks then follow one another without monotony, keeping a very pleasant melodic base without any dead time. Even the eponymous title, the most direct, can find in its chorus an unexpected solemnity that gives depth to the piece. 'Psalm 51' is a very nice closing track with delicate sounds a la Anthony Phillips and again a saxophone that evokes 'Crime of the Century'.
Lovers of melancholic and melodic atmospheres, don't miss this little gem. "False Memory Archive", with its carefully crafted atmospheres, brings a cozy feeling of comfort in an complex environment. The kind of album you don't want to take off your player. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. We, The Drowned - 05:24
02. Claire De Lune - 07:16
03. False Memory Archive - 04:47
04. Lost Causes - 08:30
05. Intermezzo - 01:42
06. The Lights - 10:34
07. There Are The Stars We're Looking For - 04:19
08. Transparent Eyes - 04:59
09. Psalm 51 - 07:26
LINEUP:
Ole Michael Bjørndal: Guitares
Øystein Sootholtet: Claviers / Batterie / Percussions
Sigbjørn Reiakvam: Guitares / Basse / Claviers / Banjo
Simen Valldal Johannessen: Chant / Claviers
Bjorn Riis: Guitares / Invité
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READERS
4.7/5 (3 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.7/5 (7 view(s))
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