Lars Fredrik Frøislie: Gamle Mester

Lars Fredrik Frøislie ranks among the most accomplished keyboardists working in contemporary progressive rock. Best known as the primary keyboardist and compositional force behind Norway's Wobbler, he has helped restore the scope and discipline of 1970s symphonic prog without reducing it to homage. Beyond that role, Frøislie contributes to various projects and composes for film and television. A dedicated collector and performer of vintage analog instruments, including the Mellotron, Minimoog and Hammond organ, he draws from the lineage of Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman while grounding his music in Nordic folklore and personal reflection. Following his solo debut, Fire Fortellinger (Karisma Records, 2023), his second release, Gamle Mester, presents a more assured and fully realized artistic statement.

The album title translates as "Old Master," a phrase closely associated in Scandinavian symbolism with the ancient oak tree, long viewed as a living record of time, endurance and accumulated wisdom. That image proves instructive. Gamle Mester unfolds with patience and structural strength, favoring depth over spectacle.

Frøislie performs most of the material himself, handling vocals, drums and a wide range of vintage keyboards. He is joined by Nikolai Hængsle on bass and Ketil Vestrum Einarsen on flute and recorder. The analog-focused production is warm and spacious, allowing individual textures to emerge without sacrificing clarity.

The six tracks form a loosely cyclical progression from dawn to dusk. "Demring (Dawn)" opens the album with layered keyboards and measured harmonic movement, resolving in a restrained piano coda that signals renewal rather than triumph. Choral accents and precise motifs root the piece firmly in the symphonic tradition, while Einarsen's flute lines bring it to a leisurely close. In contrast, "Jakten På Det Kalydonske Villsvin (The Hunt for the Calydonian Boar)" draws on mythological themes, driven by animated rhythms, assertive vocals and dense arrangements that alternate between urgency and repose. The track highlights Frøislie's command of pacing and dynamic contrast.

"Medusas Flåte (The Raft of the Medusa)" moves into darker territory, shaped by shifting moods and heightened tension. Wordless vocal passages lend the piece a ritualistic and cinematic quality. The album's centerpiece is "De Tre Gratier (The Three Graces)," a twelve-minute composition named for the daughters of Zeus. Here, evolving keyboard textures move between light and shadow, flute melodies rise above restless percussion and Hængsle's bass provides steady forward motion. Its layered harmonies, interlocking patterns and tuneful central theme reward careful and repeated listening. "Skumring (Dusk)" closes the album with meditative ambience, classical piano voicings and reflective tones that offer a sense of resolution.

Gamle Mester stands as a cohesive and mature work from an artist at his peak. It balances technical precision with emotional restraint, honoring progressive rock tradition while quietly extending its expressive range. Listeners drawn to keyboard-centered symphonic prog in the vein of Yes, Camel or Gentle Giant will find it a rewarding experience. Like the old oak it evokes, the album favors longevity over immediacy, revealing its strength over time rather than at first glance.

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