Detailed Reviews [Pixie Ninja - 2023 - "Hypnagogia"]

Prolusion. Norwegian band Pixie Ninja was formed back in 2015, and from 2017 and onward they have released new material at a fairly steady pace, with three studio albums to their name as of 2023. Their latest album is called "Hypnagogia", and was released through Norwegian label Apollon Records Prog in the fall of 2023.

Analysis. It is an instrumental variety of progressive rock that we get on this album, and it is one that is distinctly difficult to classify. Many of the songs come with similar features to a band like Tangerine Dream, but without sounding as electronic and without a more distinct synthetic quality to the landscapes explored. At the same time there is a distinctly futuristic vibe about the album as a whole, but without ever really entering the cosmic traditions of the progressive rock universe either. I rather presume that I'm not the only listener that will find it difficult to exactly pigeonhole the specific orientation of this production, but will have to stick to instrumental progressive rock as a general description. Apart from the opening track, which revolves more around a more defined jazzrock oriented expression, the compositions here come with many points of reference to Tangerine Dream. The soundscapes are more organic sounding throughout though. If this is the result of filters, distortion effects or other manners in which to treat the sounds of the different instruments I do not know, and as the exact instruments used aren't listed either pinpointing exactly what is going on here on a detailed instrument level is a task for a seasoned musician to analyze. Many of the songs do play out in a similar manner. We open with compelling and atmospheric laden landscapes that start out with a vibrant nerve, and then move on to more majestic and layered constructions that tend to come with a more haunting and ominous undercurrent. Sometimes more dramatic textures and effects are applied, like broken chaotic rhythms, a darker and more menacing undercurrent or futuristic sounds that come with machine like or dystopian qualities. With the good, old Mellotron adding a bit of a mystic feel here and there too. With various noise effects being a recurring element that adds an emphasis to the borderline menacing mood and atmosphere that is a defining trait of this album. In between all of this we also get a bit of a time out, with a shorter creation that sounds like something that Vangelis could have made...if he had a visit to one of the poles on a distinctly cold day. This song, 'Ora Antarctica', adds a new dimension to the word chill when it comes to music descriptions.

Conclusion. While this is an album of music that is extremely difficult to exactly classify and not all that much easier to describe in a good manner, the haunting, ominous and borderline threatening moods and atmospheres explored here are highly intriguing and compelling creations of music. For my taste in music this production is a strikingly appealing creation, and one of the most intriguing albums of 2023 as far as I am concerned. If you can imagine a dystopian and more organic sounding variety of a band like Tangerine Dream then you should have a useful idea of what this album sounds like, and if that description intrigues you I will be a bit surprised if you won't be fascinated by the landscapes explored on this production.

Progmessor: September 2023
The Rating Room