Needlepoint "Walking Up That Valley"

Country: Norway
Genre(s): Retro Prog, Canterbury, Jazz-Rock, Fusion
Label: Bjk Music - BJKLP108 / BJKCD108

Format: CD, vinyl, digital
Release date: January 29, 2021
Tracklist

01. Rules Of A Mad Man

02. I Offered You The Moon

03. Web Of Worry

04. So Far Away

05. Where The Ocean Meets The Sky

06. Carry Me Away

07. Another Day

08. Walking Up That Valley

Line-up

Bjørn Klakegg : lead vocals, guitars, violin, flute, cello

David Wallumrød : hammond organ, clavinet, fender rhodes, harpsichord, upright piano, prophet-5, arp odyssey, arp solus, minimoog

Nikolai Hængsle : electric bass, backing vocals, guitars on Rules of a mad man and So far away

Olaf Olsen : drums

    With:

Erik Nylander : percussion

The Carry Me Away choir: Indra Lorentzen, Camilla Brun, Maria Vatne, David, Nikolai, and Bjørn

Description/Reviews:

New album “Walking Up That Valley” continues the line of development from the band’s past two releases, which dug more deeply into the Canterbury Prog only hinted at by the band’s first outings.

With the group’s maturity has come continued exploration, evinced in a plethora of instruments heard across the album: harpsichord, violin, flute, a choir and more add layers of sonic beauty to an album already bursting with ideas.

Between dreamy vintage keyboards, busy drums and percussion, mind-bending, jazz-tinged guitar work and deft bass lines, Klakegg’s soft and melodious voice finds room in the mix, tying the album together with tales from the road between reality and fantasy.

Media/Samples 

Bandcamp

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Proggnosis

Needlepoint "The Diary of Robert Reverie"

Country: Norway
Genre(s): Retro Prog, Canterbury, Jazz-Rock, Fusion
Label: Bjk Music
Format: CD, vinyl, digital
Release date: May 25, 2018
Tracklist: 
1. Robert Reverie (4:13)
2. On The Floor (4:50)
3. All Kinds Of Clouds (4:54)
4. Will It Turn Silent (3:01)
5. In My Field Of View (3:13)
6. Grasshoppers (3:37)
7. Beneath My Feet (3:20)
8. In The Sea (3:48)
9. Shadow In The Corner (3:11)

Total Time 34:07

Line-up: 
Bjørn Klakegg : vocals, guitars
David Wallumrød : keyboards
Nikolai Hængsle Eilertsen (Elephant9): bass
Olaf Olsen : drums

Description/Reviews: 

What do you get if you combine Robert Wyatt and Syd Barret's melodies with the very best from the 70's fusion and the playful feeling of early Weather Report? Put in some grooves of Return to Forever, and finally add a slice of the classy and thoughtful songwriting of progrock legends like Caravan and Camel? Well, you might not get the latest Needlepoint album, but at least we're close.
A lot of these references were explored on the band's previous album "Aimless Mary", but on "The Diary of Robert Reverie" they embrace them even more - it's effortless, enthusiastic and playful. Olaf Olsen's drums are even more present, and dynamically swirls up the songs, while David Wallumrød plays the keys with an organic nerve as if the sound came from the earth itself. Everything is supervised by producer and bassplayer Nikolai Hængsle, who in is not afraid to turn on the fuzz when needed not unlike Soft Machine, still there's melody in each bass line. At the same time maestro and songwriter Bjørn Klakegg's guitar floats all over it and keeps it together ranging from soft jazzheat to wild rock heroism.
Many of the lyrics are inspired by the environment around Bjørns place in Sweden, and the main character Robert, a dreamy individual, is also inspired by the nice, sometimes strange people in the small village. Bjørns older brother Rune Klakegg has illustrated the cover. (propermusic.com)

Media/Samples 
Deezer

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Proggnosis

Needlepoint "Aimless Mary"

Country: Norway
Genre(s): Retro Prog
Label: Bjk Music
Format: CD, vinyl, digital
Release date: December 11, 2015
Tracklist: 
1. Fear (5:46)
2. Why (6:12)
3. Soaring (8:15)
4. Shattered Into Memories (5:00)
5. Aimless Mary (5:44)
6. Half Awake (4:32)
7. Imaginary Plane (3:21)

Total Time 38:50

Line-up: 
Bjørn Klakegg : vocals, guitars
David Wallumrød : clavinet, organ
Nikolai Hængsle Eilertsen (Elephant9): bass
Olaf Olsen : drums

Media/Samples 
Fear

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