Detailed Reviews [Professor Tip Top - 2021 - "Lanes of Time"]

Prolusion. Norwegian band Professor Tip Top have been a going entity for a bit over a decade at this point, releasing new material at a very steady pace. "Lanes of Time" is the band's seventh studio album, and was released through Norwegian label Apollon Records in the late fall of 2021. We have previously given this album a mini-review, but as we recently got sent a physical edition of this production, we have now given it the slightly more detailed review we give to the physical submissions we receive at the progressor site.

Analysis. The variety of progressive rock that this band explore is an atmospheric laden variety of the form. Floating, smooth keyboard textures is an essential feature, and many of the compositions have a subtle symphonic character to them that for me at least brings forth associations to a band like Camel. While the mood and some of the more dominant instrument details points in that direction, just about as important to the overall sound of the band is the use of cosmic synthesizer and keyboard details, at times as dominant features giving the songs more of a Hawkwind style vibe, on other occasions more toned down and reminding me a bit more about a band like Eloy in one of their more cosmic oriented phases. On occasion the songs here will feature a bit more blues-oriented details in the guitar department as well, used and explored in a manner that makes it natural to add in Pink Floyd to the associations department here. The end result is music that for me at least is closely aligned to the accessible varieties of progressive rock a band such as Camel became famous for creating and exploring, with some detours and flavoring brought in from the cosmic department with Hawkwind and Pink Floyd as the key references in that context. Distinct lead vocals is a specialty of Professor Tip Top here, for better in terms of adding a unique touch and perhaps a bit for worse in terms of creating music with a more universal appeal, the latter obviously a matter of your subjective taste in the vocals department.

Conclusion. Those with a general fascination for accessible and atmospheric laden progressive rock should feel right at home with the landscapes crafted by Professor Tip Top on this as well as their previous studio productions. And if the thought of early 80's Camel given a subtle cosmic flavoring and a blues-tinged undercurrent strikes you as an intriguing prospect, I reckon that this is an album with your name written on it.

Progmessor: January 2022
The Rating Room