Eivind Lorentzen is a Norwegian guitarist who also plays bass, dulcimer and synths, and a member of the band Gentle Knife, among a few others, who now has branched out into solo work. There is little doubt upon the first listens, that Eivind brings an eclectic mix to his craft, blending classical ornamentations with prog outlooks, with a rather personal-sounding and hypnotic perspective. An album that is meant to be pervasive cannot really be dissected into bite size pieces, no matter how short one’s attention span may be in 2026 (brief, I assure you!). This is neither mainstream nor even avant-garde, just different, with poetic spoken word passages based on Austrian Rainer Maria Rilke within segments of ambient colorations that span a wide expanse.
Throughout the 13 tracks, of which half contain insightful snippets, the listener may be confronted with a common occurrence. Some (like yours truly) are not big fans of any narration, though I am okay with it as long as it’s kept to a minimum, blended into the piece or within a live context where the visuals may take over the senses and merge them into one experience. Others may find no problem at all with the premise. Tastes are not debatable, kudos to Eivind for daring to take the plunge.
Musically speaking, there is a fair number of delicate orchestrations, unexpected guitar insertions and a feeling of soundtrack/documentary foundation that is unescapable and yet creative. The usage of various effects is also noteworthy, giving that cinematographic shimmer many enjoy in prog. A soothing, reflective and melancholic introspection into the inner core of thought.
The 2 longest tracks are the highlights , the 9 minute+ title opener and the two part “Dimensions of Hope” (total running time of 11 minutes +) , mainly because the wider parameters offer the opportunity for the atmosphere to seep in long enough to make a strong impression.
Poetry wise, Rilke was a highly regarded German language existentialist poet who ventured into introspective realms that focused more on individual self-interpretation than communal thought (aka religion), detailing the human condition through artistic impression and in more poetic (as opposed to critical) terms.
It will be most interesting to see what future has in store for this endeavour, certainly quite different than the Gentle Knife releases that sit in more traditional prog territories.
4 saved souls