Finnish collective Onségen Ensemble, much influenced by its Nordic environment, has developed an ever changing and distinctive sound on display on A Tale.

MAKING COMPARISONS

It seems there isn’t going to be a dull moment on this album. Every few moments something different is thrown out that will find fans of British 70’s prog rock making comparisons with classic groups. There is a contemplative quality to all the music. Sometimes enchanting, sometimes with tension but there are clearly therapeutic benefits from listening to this mesmerising album.

An enticing opening sees chiming bells and guitars and pounding keyboard chords cross swords with vocals shifting from falsetto to ghostly. A rising guitar solo provide lots of interest. The Garden Of Celestials falls into a brief Genesis style gentle flute solo to end this compelling track.

The flute continues backed with some Gregorian like vocals for To Be Led By The Lost which has rapidly changing dynamics and tempo.The ever-changing moods and atmosphere generated reflects the ensemble’s changes musicians to suit the need. The hypnotic A Thought turns a new page as it builds and builds to a swirling mass of sounds and majestic keyboards.

A CHANGE IN TACK

Another change in tack appears for The Word when one wonders if they recruited Hank Marvin for the opening guitar work. It gathers pace with some galloping percussion and choral vocals which wouldn’t go amiss in a spaghetti western movie soundtrack, yet it’s an exciting listen. Oldest Father maintains some of these elements but at a calmer more serene pace with more tranquil moments including some folky violin.

The overall listening effect is best described by the band who consider the central theme as peace: “In many ways, it feels like the only value that still truly holds meaning in today’s world. Peace is diverse, what we dare not be.”

The Latin rhythms of the First Casualty add to the diverse experience with some deep twangy guitar licks and more resounding trumpeting creating a fuller sound to the track. Crystal Waters Of Spring is more evocative with what sounds like steel drum sounds trickling into the picture and stretching a fair way into the track as psychedelic keyboards kick in. But that beautiful trilling flute is never far away.

VISITING STYLES

All in all, A Tale makes a case for being is one of the best Prog albums of the year as several styles of rock music are visited and although this is the Ensemble’s fifth effort since their inception in 2004 there is much to persuade one to delve back to previous material.

Here’s Garden Of Celestial:

Onsegen Ensemble: Website

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