«The Key» is the debut album from Norwegian progressive rock band Swifan Eolh & The Mudra Choir.
This album was executed by the whole band playing live in the studio, keeping the original bass and drum tracks, while later overdubbing vocals, guitars and keyboards. The songs often come to light in a process of combining ideas made by Tom Inge Andersen and Rune Seip Bjørnflaten and arranging them in companionship with the whole band. Each song seems to have a life of their own and is intuitively given their unique form. Still we believe that they all uphold the recognizable sound of the band. Instruments are often interwoven in a symphonic way. We try to maintain an open minded approach to style, feeling that the sentiment of eclectic music and progressive rock gives us the freedom to blend and express musical ideas drawing inspiration from a big span of scope stylistically. Lyrics are written by Rune Seip Bjørnflaten. The texts are expressions of a spiritually seeking attitude, finding inspiration in the esoteric traditions, addressing the labyrinths of the mind, still pointing out keys to freedom from the abyss of suffering.
The band consists of Rune Seip Bjørnflaten (Captain Cumulonimbus & his wondrous cloudship/ Vishwa Soundreflector), Tom Inge Andersen (Utopian Fields/ Carvus/ Hpre), Jarle Alfsen and Synøve Jacobsen with guest musicans Ståle Langhelle (Jordsjø) and Endre Christiansen (Shine Dion) adding organ, mellotron, piano and synth on the album, as well as Gilli Smyth (Gong) having a post mortem appearance, reciting her poem “Blessed be”.
“The Key” will be available on all formats ( cd, Lp , digital) and also as a limited 250 copies coloured vinyl edition. The album will be released by Norwegian label Apollon Records through their subsidiary division Apollon Records Prog. The official release date is January 18th 2019.
Track list:
1. Wounded Dreamers
2. Heart of Sadness
3. Spiders in the Old Café
4. Earth, Shakes, Rattles’n’rolls
5. Cantus
6. Tides Are Turning
7. Blessed Be
8. The Key
Line-up:
Jarle Alfsen – Drums & the mystery note
Tom Inge Andersen – Bass, synthpedalboard and animatronics.
Rune Seip Björnflaten – Guitars, words and vocals.
Synöve Jacobsen – Vocals and dancing
“Sounds good in a proggie way. I like the the way you have treated Gilli`s poem – appropriate electronica. Overall, this is intricate and complex long form music performed with a high level of technical proficiency.”
-Mike Howlett (Gong, Grammy award winning producer etc.)
“I was amazed by listening to this piece of cool, new, proper progrock!!! It’s a great debut album. It made me pick up my old Gentle Giant and YES albums. I can’t wait to hear more from this band!
-Frode Berg (Award winning bassplayer in Helge Lien trio etc.)
“What a prog guild! Lots of music and fun made by real admirers of the old prog scene. Good compositions and musical ideas, provided by solid musicians with the right approach and sound. This has obviously been generated by plenty of hours of hard work in the rehearsal studio. Listen to the album, and get them booked at a festival near you, sooner the better!”
-Jon Sjøen (Kaizers Orchestra etc.)
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/mudrasiddhi/
https://www.facebook.com/bergenapollonrecords/
