Merry Macabre (Wobbler, 2020)

Wobbler surely are one of the most interesting bands worldwide when it comes to classic prog and vintage sounds. Their 2020 release titled "Dwellers of The Deep" is worth its promising title and includes this 19 minutes song, an amazing journey through different progressive references and styles. Not only this track is full of good musical themes, mood changes and irregular tempos, but it's also a technical tour de force, thanks to the band's instrumental skills and the song's daring architecture. 

                                                        As usual, a wonderful cover!

Even if Wobbler follow well known musical tracks, they mix them up in their own original way and - what's more - seem to enjoy what they're doing. That's why the listener is fully involved in their devilish rythms, intricate vocal harmonies and atmospheric breaks. I especially like the piano driven sections, actng as respite and launching the following sections. Wobbler really dwell in the deepest rooms of music and there's a yellow brick road leading to their beautiful house somewhere in the centre of Progtown. 

This Past Presence (Wobbler, 2011)

The Wobbler are one of the most known bands of the Scandinavian vintage prog movement. Not only they play the same instruments their '70s models used to play, but also they write and perform as it was usual in the Golden Era. Are they to blame? It depends, IMHO, on the use they make of the sound they love. That's why I put this particular track in my blog: even its title suggests a link between the past and the present. The Wobbler transform their models in a musical palette they make use of with a new, free, fresh creativity.

"Rites at Dawn" was the third Wobbler's studio album.

So, "This Past Presence" re-uses all the main features of our Golden Era heroes, but in an original and recognizable frame, a melancholy and pastoral one, showing all the colours of the passing seasons and a strong union with natural elements. I see kind of a musical wicca here, a charm made of piano passages and choral arrangements, acoustic guitars, electric progressions and flowing mellotrons. In a word, magic. And we all know you need ancient tools to perform the best magic of all.

In Taberna (Wobbler, 2009)

Wobbler are a brilliant specimen of the so-called vintage prog bands, producing songs in the style of the '70s symphonic bands and often using their models' same instruments. This is exactly the case of this highly dynamic song, coming from Wobbler's second album "Afterglow". It's a majestic, mostly up-tempo instrumental track, driven by keyboards and especially Mellotron. All the main features of classic prog are here: the epic wall of sound, some slightly jazzy sections, a few romantic and foggy moments, flute, violin, jeegs, folk roots and even a glimpse of Dark Ages.

A very good cover art, by Trine, Kim Design Studio and Wobbler.

These Norwegian guys are really clever and they know how to change the tempo, the instruments, the mood, even the models of their flushing music. I especially like the way they link so many different riffs in a sort of modern rhapsody. Maybe they lack somehow in coherence and melodies, but they excel when it comes to real progressive fun!