'Kerrs Pink' is a Norwegian band which has already been around fifty years of existence but which had several periods of inactivity and which released 6 albums including 2 in the 80s, 2 in the 90s and who came back to the fore in 2013 with a very nice album 'Mystic Spirit' which has relaunched the group once again and 2021 sees the release of 'Presence of Life'. In a progressive rock mixing symphonic and folk influences taking us back to the 70s, they offer us 6 tracks for a fairly short duration compared to the rest of their discography, but let's not sulk our pleasure, because it is still a magnificent album with melodic lines that make one think of the great formations of the 70s and one could quote 'Kansas', 'Camel' or 'Jethro Tull' who celebrated their fifty year career in 2020 but also their compatriots 'Magic Pie', their singer 'Eirikur Hauksson' also officiating with 'Kerrs Pink'.
'Renaissance' welcomes us with an accordion quickly joined by electric instruments in a progressive atmosphere of the 70s highlighting hammond organ sounds and with different nested parts made of magnificent rhythmic breaks which makes it a first very pleasant title also thanks to beautiful melodic lines, then, 'Private Affair' hardens the subject with more present guitars but keeps a varied construction in which 'Eirikur Hauksson' shows all his vocal talent between the energetic parts and others calmer. With 'The Book of Dreams', the atmosphere of the beginning is softer and this new composition of more than 9 minutes takes us on a beautiful journey to the intonations of 'Kansas' with a catchy melody and, again, magnificent breaks of tempos and intensity, bringing an epic side close to 'Queen' (listen between the 3rd and 4th minute), then 'Away from Shadows' continues in this atmosphere with a new progressive construction with intense bass in the enegetic parts which contrast beautifully with the quieter parts that offer us an addictive melody filled with intense emotion. Then comes the beautiful ballad 'Luna', the shortest track of the album but which continues in a melancholy atmosphere to lull us by its very beautiful melodic lines and it is with the long development 'In Discipline And With Love' that the The album ends in a progressive symphonic fresco with all the ingredients that any lover of this style is looking for and in which we let ourselves be guided in a labyrinth making a succession of multiple soundscapes which is a good summary of this album filled with many admirable moments.
In summary, this new album from 'Kerrs Pink' offers us a very pleasant and accessible progressive which takes us back to the 70s and which should join the ideal collection for all an audience who likes the references mentioned above, and this with modern sound and flawless production... | |
