The Chronicles of Father Robin: “The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book 1: The Tale of Father Robin (State of Nature)” (2023) – Album Review

Summary

In Book 1 of 3 of the eagerly anticipated project “The Songs & Tales of Airoea” the Norwegian prog-rock supergroup The Chronicles of Father Robin masterfully brews fantasy, mythology, and folk tales into a rich draught of classic prog, folk, and rock music. Each song beckons listeners into a vivid narrative of world-building and mythmaking, establishing the album as a true celebration of symphonic prog traditions. With its captivating storytelling and impeccable musicianship, the album stands as a powerful testament to the genre, promising an immersive dive into a world of mythological grandeur and musical innovation.

Album Info

Introduction

Oh boy, was I ever excited for this one.

Now I’m not exactly sure how The Chronicles of Father Robin pinged my radar, but they certainly earned their place. This Norwegian prog-rock supergroup features members of Wobbler, Tusmørke, The Samuel Jackson Five, and Jordsjø. And as many fellow prog nerds have noticed, recently Norwegian prog has experienced an upswing of incredible music, and fans are willingly jumping before the shrapnel.

Admittedly, when the project was announced, I was only familiar with Wobbler, as they remain one my favorite new bands of the last 15 years. Nonetheless, once I heard about The Chronicles of Father Robin and their 30-years-in-the-making upcoming three-volume release The Songs & Tales of Airoea, my interest couldn’t have been more stoked. The website promised an epic 18-track sojourn rooted in fantasy novels, mythology, folk tales, and of course classic prog, folk, and rock music.

The story and music germinated out of decades of friendship, music, love of genre, personal growth, and endless conversation. As such, the band recorded The Songs & Tales of Airoea over many years, starting way back in the late 2000s. This project was truly a labor of love for all parties involved, a dedication to a dream and vision that generated and pivoted organically over many years and multiple band members.

And to kick the project off the ground, the band crowdfunded the album’s creation and successfully met their fundraising goal. With a limited edition box set of 500 copies funded and produced (with three colored vinyl LPs, maps, hi-res downloads, an illustrated booklet, and other goodies), The Songs & Tales of Airoea boxed set was released in July 2023. Individual releases of each of the album’s three volumes are scheduled to follow soon after, starting with The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book 1: The Tale of Father Robin (State of Nature) set for release on September 15th, 2023.

While I am reviewing each volume individually, it behooves me to mention that this is a singular project that tells a complete tale. In other words, consider each volume an album side from a single album, rather than distinct, individual releases. Or two album sides, if you’re listening to vinyl.

So with that being said, let’s step through the Gates of Morning and into the forest trees and rivers of Book 1: The Tale of Father Robin (State of Nature).

Review

“Prologue” and “The Tale of Father Robin”

The “Prologue” raises the curtain with the gentle sound of ocean waves at dusk. We hear a solitary figure emerging from his ship, their audible footsteps leading us somewhere as the noise of a distant celebration comes into focus, quickly coming near. As they turn the handle and open the door, we realize we’re at an inn where a festive hootenanny is underway. They are about to regale us with “The Tale of Father Robin”, a medieval folk number in which the balladeer introduces us to the mythic character of Father Robin: the maker, the seed, the wanderer, the prince of day and the brother of night. The awakener of the spring. Elements of mandolin, harpsichord, and simple percussion make this a sweet and joyous tale, albeit a short one. Like its predecessor, it last just over a minute.

“Eleision Forest”

Tales of folk and legend explode in our consciousness when they start going larger than life. Accordingly, “Eleision Forest” meets that challenge as an up-tempo, rock-based prog barnstormer. The track hits hard right out of the gate with a driving riff, bringing all the rock with commanding Hammonds, a thunderous bassline, and a powerful kinetic pulse. It then softens with flute and mellotron passages, laying down the energy to an almost pastoral level. There’s a mystical feel to the track, with hints of vintage symphonic prog throughout; bands like Yes and ELP immediately come to mind.

It is here where the song brings the Father Robin character to center stage. Father Robin passes through The Gates of Morning and enters Eleison Forest, visiting the Kingdom of Trees and the River Kingdom, mingling with the mystical creatures that dwell within. He is bringing daylight to the world, listening to the philosophizing willows, admiring the birds and trees painting the sky, and enjoying the hymn from the fairest and most beautiful river nymph, the princess of water. Finally we learn that Father Robin is simply a servant to Eleison Forest, his master and creator.

What is undeniable is that the compositional richness, production values, and intricate musicianship are all top notch. What an exciting, hypnotic track. That keyboard solo mid-song is a particular standout, as is a very Robert Plant-like howl almost nine minutes into the tune, but there are but a few of the songs highlights. And yet the totality of the track outsizes the impressiveness of its individual elements.

“Death of the Fair Maiden”

“Death of the Fair Maiden” is a lament to the loss of the most fairest, which I’ll assume was the River Princess from the previous tune. A character (Father Robin, presumably) searches for his lost fair love, who has gone missing. He implores the moon and the wind their assistance, although if the song title is any indication, things don’t look entirely promising for the poor lovestruck narrator.

This song unexpectedly opens with a disco-tinged drumbeat, reminiscent of the Grateful Dead’s Shakedown Street. But that’s just about where the similarity ends. “Death of the Fair Maiden” is a slinky number, starting with that beat and accompanying bassline bringing in funkier elements. But the opening melody is symphonic in construction, almost with a baroque twist.

“Death of the Fair Maiden” slows down as the instrumental opening leads into the verses, becoming more melancholic with minor-key acoustics and a folksier touch. The lament becomes more palpable, with an overwhelming sense of pain and loss. I’m loving the bass work here, melodic and propelling, almost primal-sounding like a broken heart maintaining its beat.

A poignant mid-song crescendo might lead you to anticipate an explosive up-tempo shift; however, it serves to emphasize the prevailing mood of loss. Instead the explosive up-tempo moment occurs in the song’s final two minutes. The band here is tightly locked into the melody, as guitar and organ engage in a musical duel, while the rhythm section is as propulsive as solid rocket booster fuel.

“Twilight Fields”

This brings us to the album’s centerpiece, “Twilight Fields”, a 15-minute prog romp that begins with an air of absolute spookiness. The riff, reminiscent of Dianno-era Iron Maiden, starts softly, intensifies, then recedes like an evil mist spreading around us. It transitions into the dancing wails of a spirited flute, announcing or perhaps warning us of impending doom of sorts.

In the song’s first movement (“The Feast”), we join Father Robin, his Council of Elders, and all the Forest’s creatures in a boisterous feast. The music during this section betrays that sense of joy and celebration; it’s measured, dark, almost tragic-sounding. The melodic construction is rich and unnerving, soft but immediate. As we move into the next movement (“The Obsessive Madness”), the vibe remains, but the energy subtly shifts. The season changes mid-feast as the sky shifts above them, the cycle of the Moon renewing itself and alerting us of something being Not Quite Right.

It is in the final movement (“The Alteration”) that we recognize this transition. Chaos descends upon the scene, the Fair Maiden is abducted, and a curtain of darkness falls upon the feast as “unknown forces” disrupt their bucolic celebration. This movement takes up over half of the song’s runtime, as the music adopts a mini-suite format, introducing a host of musical cues and motifs and bringing a raucous spirit of prog experimentation to the table. The scene plunges us into gloom, leading us into a realm rife with unknown terrors, underlined by atmospheric sound effects and a lingering synth note.

“Unicorn”

But not all is lost. “Unicorn” opens with a hopeful flute introduction, even as Eleision Forest has fallen into shadow. The land is ruined, the creatures have fled, and Father Robin quests into this new realm hoping to rescue the Fair Maiden and battle this strange, dark new world that has appeared. Before our eyes, Father Robin appears to devolve, his memory fading, transformed by some unseen force or entity. Again, where we might expect the music to be ominous, oppressive, or destructive, this transformation is earmarked by a sense of gentle interlocking melodies from guitar and flute. At least, for the first six minutes. After which a fuzzy distorted guitar pumps up the tempo as the scene devolves into a frenzied rock maelstrom.

A ray of light emerges from this storm in the form of Tira, a brave unicorn Father Robin summoned with his fading strength and being. She rescues Robin, hoisting him on her back and taking him through The Gates of Dawn to the land of her people.

But what happens next? Stay tuned for my review of Book 2, gentle readers…

And In Closing…

There really wasn’t a moment on the entirety of The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book 1: The Tale of Father Robin (State of Nature) that didn’t command my attention. Amid the world-building and mythmaking, the album emerges as a true celebration of symphonic prog music. The influence of retro- and heavy-prog stalwarts is undeniable, but the album is so much more than a love letter to the music of the past. The Chronicles of Father Robin seamlessly fuse these elements into a powerful musical expression imbued with mythological grandeur and compositional delight. If you appreciate symphonic progressive rock, The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book 1: The Tale of Father Robin (State of Nature) deserves a prime spot on your must-listen list.

And we still have two more volumes to go!

Continue our album review journey through Airoea!

What similar albums does ChatGPT recommend?

While it behooves me to remind my readers that every word you just read is 100% Mills, let’s ask our friendly neighborhood AI for some similar album recommendations.

From Silence to Somewhere – Wobbler (2017) Wobbler, one of the notable bands in the supergroup of “The Chronicles of Father Robin,” crafts a masterful journey through the annals of classic prog-rock in this release. With sweeping mellotron-infused soundscapes and intricate song structures, this album is sure to please lovers of both modern and vintage progressive rock.

In Contact – Caligula’s Horse (2017) Australian band Caligula’s Horse beautifully blends modern progressive metal elements with atmospheric and emotional storytelling. “In Contact” is a conceptual work that tells a story of art, creation, and the human experience. It’s both emotionally charged and technically precise.

Weather Systems – Anathema (2012) Moving away from their doom metal roots, Anathema offers an atmospheric blend of progressive and alternative rock in “Weather Systems.” It’s an emotionally resonant album, diving deep into themes of life, love, and existential contemplation, all the while wrapped in a cocoon of lush instrumentation.

The Clockwork Fable – Gandalf’s Fist (2016) A mammoth 3-disc concept album, “The Clockwork Fable” offers a blend of cinematic storytelling and top-notch prog-rock musicianship. Set in a steampunk universe, the narrative and the music entwine beautifully, with tracks transitioning from ethereal soundscapes to rock-driven anthems.

Lykaia – Soen (2017) Soen’s “Lykaia” strikes a balance between atmospheric passages and powerful progressive metal sections. The album is filled with deeply emotional lyrics, intricate guitar work, and solid rhythm structures, making it a standout for fans of modern prog with a touch of the mystic.

Output from ChatGPT, OpenAI to Mills on 19 August 2023.