Ruphus: Let Your Light Shine

In 2021, this Oslo-based progressive rock label reissued / remastered all of the Norwegian progressive rock unit's 1970s and early 1980s analog tapes of the original LPs. During its progression the band were especially popular in West Germany. However, the North American prog aficionados may have found it difficult to become aware of Ruphus unless they found a boutique LP import shop.

The digital remastering of the original analog tapes yields numerous rewards and should be music to the ears of many audiophiles, where Hakon Graf's crisp and ringing electric keyboard lines help generate a sparkling soundstage. Moreover, the pristine audio highlights space between notes amid female vocalist Gudny Aspaas' multi-octave wordless vocals, which often coat a primary melody with sanctified implications.

Throughout its reign as a top-shelf prog unit, the band withstood multiple personnel changes. On a side note, the great Norwegian fusion guitarist Terje Rypdal not only produced this album but played ARP and String Ensemble keys during the intro to "Nordlys" and used the ARP on "Let Your Light Shine."

Fans of 1970s and beyond masters—Camel, Renaissance, and Soft Machine should be pleased as punch with the band's catalogue. With rock solid grooves and hummable motifs, the musicians transparently oscillate between a menu of jazz fusion, rock and prog rock motifs, along with swirling background EFX and zinging solos by the front line. And let's not forget the keyboardist's dreamy synth phrasings, coupled with fervent pulses and briskly paced breakouts. Even the jam stints are disciplined and imaginatively consummated.

"Second Corner" and the following track are accentuated by guitarist Kjell Larsen's echo-laden solos and Graf's minimalistic and undulating choruses as the band build layers with textural finesse atop a driving groove, enamored with yet another memorably melodic theme. And "Let Your Light Shine" features Graf's four-chord vamp and wily synth phrasings. Whereas the final piece "Brain Boogie" is set in motion by the keyboardist's jazzy bop-patterned voicings and Aspass' hallowed vocalese and much more goodness. Nonetheless, it's an alluring production that generates a multitude of optimistic vibes and harmonious themes via the passionate ensemble work, alluding to a historically important disc that presents a novel encounter some 50 years after-the-fact.