Norway

Degaton Records and Apollon Records 60 mins

https://www.facebook.com/majorparkinson

https://majorparkinson.bandcamp.com/?fbclid=IwAR3oLveojZ-P5WpnJfcsWreUak8GHNC6YepHS3U0GlX67fxuwoqlpMGwkL4

Rating 80/100

Throughout the lengthy period of the Covid Pandemic, there have been many examples of where individual artists and/or bands have undertaken steps of extremely imaginative proportion’s to continue bringing their art to their fan base audiences.  Such an occurrence was May 15th 2020 when Norwegian art-rock band ‘Major Parkinson facilitated a concert in the form of a live stream from the music room at Bergen Public Library.

‘Major Parkinson’ are a totally unique band, they, despite being top-notch musicians are hard to categorise. However, with a distinctly song-based output focused centrally around the melodious and not quite but almost rasping vocalised storytelling of ‘Jon Ivar Kollbotn’ you are steered around to a definite art-rock stylisation. Storytelling too with emphatic and dramatic posturing that magically colour the feel of the music. But the magic does not stop here because Jon is wonderfully supported in this concert with the amazing violin and vocal accompaniment of Claudia Cox and other persons unknown on piano drums and bass. I waited patiently throughout the video to glean sight of the contributing musicians’ names but to no avail. Similarly, the data sent to us here at House of Prog was sadly limiting in usable information.

Summary: Strangely and even without an audience in situ this is a remarkably live and energetic concert, with lead singer Jon Ivar Kollbotn literally giving his all to make this a momentous occasion. Such histrionics associated with his stage type movements and, in the bargain, really letting himself get fully involved into the spirit of the occasion must have been difficult. But being the consummate professional he is it was only the noise of the audience that was missing. This is, in its, entirety a thoroughly enjoyable show but probably more so for the actual fans of this band.

“A Night at the Library” will be available digitally, on Digisleeve CD, limited three-sided black double LP, and limited three-sided white double LP.

CD/Digital will be released on March 11th, and the vinyl versions on June 3rd.

In the meantime, relive the magic of this occasion with this magnificent video: youtu.be/6PIP36aczlg