The Windmill - Mindscapes - 2024
“... the forth album from the windmill ...”
intro
After the releases 'To Be Continued ...' (2010), 'The Continuation' (2013) and 'Tribus' (2018), 'Mindscapes' (2024) is the 4th album by Norwegian prog band The Windmill. If you have visited progressive rock festivals in recent years, chances are you have seen The Windmill live. Your reviewer saw the band twice at the 'Night Of The Prog' festival (2019 and 2024) in Germany and at the 'We Låve Rock' festival (2023) in Norway. At the last 'Night Of The Prog' festival (2024) drummer Kristoffer Utby was replaced by Nils Harsem. This because Kristoffer Utby wanted to spend more time on his project Infringement. A band that made a crushing impression at the 2022 edition of the 'Night Of The Prog' festival. But that is a story for another review. All music and lyrics were composed and written by Jean Robert Viita and Erik Borgen. All arrangements by The Windmill. The Windmill's new album 'Mindscapes' was mixed and mastered by Karl Groom (Threshold, Shadowland, Strangers On A Train).
line-up
Arnfinn Isaksen - bass guitar; Stig André Clason - lead guitar; Erik Borgen - guitars, lead vocals; Jean Robert Viita - keyboards, backing vocals; Morten L. Clason - flutes, saxophone, backing vocals; Kristoffer Utby - drums
Guest: Emil Olsen - acoustic guitar on 'Fear'
review
The new The Windmill album 'Mindscapes' only contains four songs. This is because the band starts this album with a real epic, the more than twenty minute long song 'Fear' (22:48). This immediately blasts out of your speakers with fat and melodic synth sounds. The two minute long opening is very strong with flute and electric guitar on top of the layer of wide keyboard parts. Then the tempo slows down and accompanied by a beautiful piano part the first vocals and polyphonic vocal harmonies follow. This part is very relaxed and melodic with beautiful vocals and guitar work. This epic of course has multiple tempo changes. When the tempo increases several times we hear beautiful organ, flute and synth parts. First we hear some influences of Genesis in a somewhat driving piece. This is also due to the flute parts of Morten L. Clason. In addition to those Genesis influences, you also have to think of the music of Jethro Tull regularly. But these clear influences in terms of flute playing and the blues influences of Tull are well integrated into their own sound which is fresh, melodic and varied. In the next part, the flute sometimes gives a Camel atmosphere. 'Fear' has become a wonderful epic with a very varied sound. And then I haven't even mentioned the wonderful drum parts of Kristoffer Utby and the melodious guitar work of Stig André Clason. Composer / Keyboardist Jean Robert Viita also convinces in this epic. There are nice synth and organ parts, but he usually plays for the composition. In the last part of this song, the flute is replaced by the saxophone, which only benefits the variety. You should buy this album for this beautiful song alone.
The second song 'Calton Hill' (4:55) has, besides the lead vocals of guitarist Erik Borgen, who also provides a nice guitar solo, also those beautiful polyphonic vocal harmonies. In this song the great drumming of Kristoffer Utby stands out. If you like this you should also listen to the albums of his band Infringement. In 'Calton Hill' the band combines the melodious and sometimes catchy vocal lines with a more rocky style. But it remains very varied, because besides the mentioned elements there is also a somewhat jazzy saxophone and beautiful melodious guitar work. The band does a great job of being able to fit all this into a song of 5 minutes. In the song 'I Still Care' (6:58) the band takes a step back. The opening of this track is ballad-like with beautiful vocals, delicate piano playing and Camel-like flute playing. Later the intensity is increased and you can enjoy wonderful vocal melodies. Everything is framed with good drumming and not too dominant organ, keyboards and guitar parts. That said, the drum parts are again of a high level. A wonderful song. The album closes with the more rock-influenced 'Nothing In Return' (5:55). The rock guitars are combined with beautiful flute playing that regularly evokes the Tull reference. Keyboardist Jean Robert Viita also gets more space in this song to show his skills on the various keyboards and synths.
conclusion
The Norwegian band The Windmill presents a convincing calling card for music lovers who do not yet know the band with the album 'Mindscapes'. It has become a convincing and mature album, which will appeal to the progressive rock fan who prefers the melodic side of prog. In addition to their own sound, the influences of the bands from the seventies trickle through. This is mainly due to the flute playing of Morten L. Clason, which is clearly inspired by the music of Camel and Jethro Tull. All music and lyrics were composed and written by Jean Robert Viita and Erik Borgen. All arrangements by The Windmill. Composer / Keyboardist Jean Robert Viita is therefore one of the silent engines behind the music of The Windmill. It is to his credit that he mainly plays in the service of the compositions and the band. Of course you will also find beautiful synth solos on this album, but this never gets bogged down in freakish behavior of the keyboard player who is also the composer of the music. Personal highlight of this album for me is of course the very varied epic 'Fear', but I am also very charmed by the track 'I Still Care'. A beautiful album with wonderful music.