After 'Audrey Horne', it's still in the direction of Norway that we are heading again but in a progressive and symphonic style with the formation 'Adventure' which releases a new album 'Tales of Belle Part 1: Across the Ocean' which is on its fifth studio recording, the first eponymous opus of the group being released in 2000 and the last 'New Horizons' from 2019. For this latest baby, the Norwegians offer us a concept album inspired by a true story, that of the serial killer 'Belle Gunness', born in Norway in 1859 and who left for the United States where she was suspected of having killed around forty people before vanishing into the wild. Musically, we find the climates of 'New Horizons' with a style modeled on 70s symphonic rock with a few touches of folk.
The album opens with a rhythmic 'Hell's Bell' setting the scene for this macabre story which takes us into Hammond organ sounds à la 'Uriah Heep' with a catchy first melody, then, 'The Journey Begins' highlights the symphonic side of this formation in a short instrumental which serves as an introduction to 'Too Far' in which 'Kjell Myran' illuminates this title with his deep and warm vocals and which has remarkable rhythmic variations bringing the progressive side. With 'Come Join Me', we are taken to a more calm atmosphere with a magnificent melody and with an admirable new vocal performance by 'Kjell Myran', the second part being interspersed with an unbridled rupture, then, 'Dreams' highlights , this time, the sweet singing of Elen Cath Hopen' which lulls us to the rhythm of beautiful peaceful melodic lines in the first part and which accelerates the rhythm and becomes more energetic in the second. Follows the instrumental 'Haunted Wedding' made of vintage organ sounds with a much gloomier end, then, 'First Mariage' brings us back to the symphonic and melodic progressive of the 70s with still typical keyboard sounds of this era which can make you think of the first 'Kansas'. It is in a folk atmosphere that we continue our journey into the past with 'Rumors Say' in which the vocal duo 'Kjell Myran'/'Elen Cath Hopen' brings a real plus and shows that Adventure' should use this vocal union more often. With 'Voices', we continue in a progressive and melodic atmosphere alternating different rhythms which takes us back a few decades again, then, 'The Last Goodbye' is a beautiful ballad embellished by a memorable melody and the album ends with the short instrumental 'Crossing' which prefigures the crossing to America of 'Belle Gunness' which will serve as a springboard for the second part of this story.
In summary, the Norwegians of Adventure' are releasing a new album in the continuity of their previous production and this first part of the macabre story of 'Belle Gunness' should be appreciated by an entire public who love the symphonic progressive of 70s and enjoying concept albums at the same time... | |
