Understated is definitely not an adjective that can be applied to Norwegian Prog Folk Rockers TUSMØRKE whose latest album “Leker for barn, ritualer for voksne” is set for release on Karisma Records on the 29th November.
Based on two musicals for children, “The Bridge to the Other Side” and “The Root of All Evil”, “Leker for barn, ritualer for voksne”, which translated means “Games for children, rituals for adults”, consists partly of Tusmørke’s take on traditional Norwegian children’s songs, and partly on new material by the band. And, whilst waiting for its release, Karisma Records have lifted the veil on what we can expect, by releasing a single from the album.
The single, with artwork by the legendary Thore Hansen, happens to be the opening track “Bro bro brille” and it can be streamed and downloaded at https://karismarecords.fanlink.to/Tusmorke_Bro_Bro_Brille
The album itself will be available in CD, Digital, Black Vinyl and Limited Edition White Vinyl formats, all of which include a 16 page lyric booklet, which, according to the band, “May, or may not, explain the plot”.
With artwork by Thore Hansen, track listing for “Leker for barn, ritualer for voksne” is as follows:
- Bro bro brille 9. Velkommen til Hades
- Per Sjuspring 10. Kharons vise
- Kjerringa med staven 11. På den ytterste nakne øya
- Ta den ring 12. Jeg gikk meg over sjø og land
- Tornerose 13. Den tolvte Baal
- Bjørnen sover 14. Gamlas seierssang
- På Torneroses slot 15. Eventyret er ute
- Sjubidubidu Sju 16. Du og jeg og vi to
TUSMØRKE’s lineup is drawn from bands like WOBBLER, JORDSJØ and ALWANZATAR, and, in keeping with the band’s innate eccentricity, the variety of instruments they have at their command is staggering, with Benediktator on Bass, vocals, Glockenspiel and percussion, Krizla on Flute, vocals, electronics and percussion, The Phenomenon Marxo Solinas on Minimoog Model D, Korg CX3, William de Blaise on harpsichord, Steinway & Sons Grand Piano, Hohner Clavinet D6, Mellotron M400, Hammond C3, Wurlitzer 200 and Solina String Ensemble, and HlewagastiR on Drums and percussion.
The band happily admit that:
Not everyone who took part in the plays completely understood what they were doing. Neither did everyone in the audience. But here it is, in all its gory glory as the collegium of dashing adventurers and explorers of the unknown reaches of history, known to the unwashed masses under the pseudonym TUSMØRKE, have yet again brought fresh fever from the stars.
With no small risk to their very lives, they have investigated the Mesopotamian idolatry that hid beneath what we, in our innocence, thought were simple songs and verses concerned with harmless folklore and creatures of fantasy. Concealed by a veil of ignorance, these ritualistic rhymes and summoning songs reveal themselves as portals to blissful and terrible realms. Astral worlds and delirious peaks tread forth from the inner places of mankind, and thus exert their power over the reality we share in our waking hours.
Our rhymes, riddles and games for children contain ancient elements. Could one find traces of past religious rituals in them? Seemingly innocent texts gain a more foreboding aspect when viewed in light of the human sacrifices, spiritual journeys and ecstatic trance rituals of Europe in times past. Cultural traits that are today associated with exotic voodoo rituals, Buddhism or cannibalistic head hunters of New Guinea were once widespread among our Celtic and Germanic tribes.
“Leker for barn, ritualer for voksne” is now available to pre-order from:
Bandcamp: https://tusm-rke.bandcamp.com/album/leker-for-barn-ritualer-for-voksne
Webshop: https://www.karismarecords.no/webshop/
More information about TUSMØRKE can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Tusmorke/
The official video for the track “Tøyens hemmelighet” from TUSMØRKE’s album “Osloborgerlig Tusmørke: Vardøger og utburder vol. 1” can be seen below.
Click image to watch the video
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