MEER – “Wheels Within Wheels” | Progressive Rock Central.com

The band MEER, is from Norway. They are back with a new album; their third. And it is a skyscraper! Karisma Records will release the new album, Wheels Within Wheels, on the 23 of August.

The band members of MEER include: On electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, keyboards, electric baritone guitar, programming, and backing vocals – Eivind Strømstad; on electric bass and backing vocals – Morten Strypet; on drums, percussion and backing vocals – Mats Lillehaug; on violin, percussion and backing vocals – Åsa Ree; on viola and backing vocals – Ingvild Nordstoga Sandvik; on classical piano, keyboards, programming, electric organ, glockenspiel, church organ, and backing vocals – Ole Gjøstøl; and they have two wonderful vocalists, who are siblings Johanne-Margrethe Kippersund Nesdal and Knut Kippersund Nesdal. Knut also plays keyboards.

As large as MEER is, they still had room to include some guest musicians as well on Wheels Within Wheels. They include: on flute on «Come to Light», «Mother» and «This Is the End» – Andrea Brennodden
Rosenlund. On vibraphone on «World of Wonder» by Lars Gärtner Fremmerlid. Additional backing vocals on «Come to Light» by Liv Elvira Kippersund Larsson, Signe Josefin, Kippersund Larsson and Simon Johannes Nyqvist.

MEER’s last album Playing House, absolutely blew my mind. Now they return with an album that eclipses even that epic album. Wheels Within Wheels will stun and amaze many a reviewer, once they find out about it. I agree with their press release, “This new release is a masterclass in blending symphonic prog and intelligent pop, showcasing the band’s exceptional musicianship, intricate vocal harmonies, and grandiose melodies”. Wheels Within Wheels, represents a significant evolution for MEER. The album features tracks that reach soaring heights and moments of intimate reflection, resulting in their most dynamic and immersive work to date. With a runtime of just over an hour, it stands as their most ambitious project yet”. For sure!

The concept for Wheels Within Wheels, builds on the foundationMEERset with their sophomore album, Playing House, released three years ago. While Playing House, explored the intricacies of personal relationships, Wheels Within Wheels offers a broader perspective, delving into the complex interplay between individuals and the wider world”.

After three years of waiting…how will MEER open Wheels Within Wheels?

With soft beautiful piano and slow playing electric guitar. Can you say awesome and epic at the same time? Then, the river of sound overflows the dam as “Chains of Changes”, begins. A beautiful song with some of the best lyrics on the album. Then siblings, Johanne Margrethe and Knut Kippersund Nesdal sing about how when we are young we do not have the recognition of fears that later slows our progress and keeps us away from reaching our natural potential and understanding of ourselves. We ignore the true picture of the world around us, that we were given at birth and during youth. They immediately describe all of the mysteries we as children explore, only to be told, beware. The siblings sing, “We didn’t know we were competing, till they told us we had won. Oh, these chains of changes. We didn’t learn to fear the dark. Until the fluorescent lights, were turned on around us, and we saw what we had missed. We turned into strangers, like children burned, oh how we learned, the truth in “ignorance is bliss”. The music is also just as anthemic. The keyboards reach levels I remember from the Genesis’ Duke album. That powerful anthemic sound Tony Banks helped capture the rising spirit in that album. This is definitely one of the best songs on the album. The vocalist duet sing, “Oh, world of wonder. Let us be blind again. So we can see you, like we did back then”. Programmed by so many; with good intentions, for our protection, but what or who, indeed, are we protecting ourselves from? Johanne and Knut sing, “We’re building walls around us. Now that we know. We’re digging holes inside ourselves. Let it be untold”. Yes, and we have a society of madmen that want to build walls between countries and people, to separate the Earth, which no one should own.

My feeling is that “Behave”, is the sequel to the duel songs that discussed the male and female ability to attract and control each other, from Playing House. Yes, I’m talking about the songs “Honey” and “Beehive”. It is a powerful song discussing how each gender needs to ‘behave’ and work better together. A very good song about cooperation. Those orchestra – level strings, and the powerful soundscape, absolutely defines the difference between this band and the many prog four and five piece bands. MEER is an orchestra of sound, and they unleash it on each song; however, this one is special.

“Take Me to the River”, is another of my favorite songs on the album. There may be four or five songs on this album which will finish in my top ten songs of the year. Lyrically, this song and album are absolutely perfect. This song opens with that ‘morning sunrise piano’ sound. Then the siblings duet sing, “Take me to the river. Take me where we used to swim. Make me a believer, as the day begins to dim”. Power strings and a feeling of a spring, summer, or early fall evening. They sing, “Take me to the meadow. Back where we were in bloom”. A real feeling of the influence of Wobbler, their collaborators, and fellow Norwegian prog musicians. Especially when they sing, “Take me to the forest. To the kingdom of our youth, Chanting in a chorus wearing crowns of lions tooth”. They bring you into their world just like Wobbler did on Dwellers of the Deep. Then, its time for the music. It reminds me a little of some early Genesis albums I remember from youth, but this is their own ‘home brew’ and you can hear its originality. This is MEER scaling the mountains and looking out beyond, just as Yes did with “Awaken”, and so many other classics. And of course, they close it with pipe organ, to my delight!

“Come to Light”, is the best song on the album, for me. The music is remarkable, but this one is powerful because of the lyrics. Johanne leads on this one, “Take a second. Put your mind at ease. And breathe for a while. Let your guard down. And rest your feet. Before the climb. Time heels us. Redeems us. But nothing ends up in a clenching fist. Pick your battles. Choose to forgive. One step at a time. Look for beauty. There’s a road ahead. The stars align. This bright light of hindsight. Makes all our struggles look like children’s games. The future is out there. Calling your name. Come to light. Be revealed. There are wheels within the wheels within the wheels. Cling to life. Take a leap. There are miles and miles to go before we sleep. There are hills upon hills upon hills. You’ll go beyond!” Then, that deep piano, and a remembrance, yes, that’s it, just like “Climb Every Mountain”. Absolutely poetic and full of the optimistic music and choirs I remember from another great movie from 1937, Lost Horizon. The bold optimism we so badly need right now. An anthem of life. Living that life to its fullest, without fear. Almost as powerful as a hymn! This might have been better as the album closer, but that song is also brilliant.

“Golden Circle”, is another overwhelmingly great song. It opens with some very innovative electric guitar chords, then drums. Then, an almost disco level dance rhythm. They sing, “I’ve been searching for some kind of meaning. I’m seeking comfort in anything breathing. Just give me something that I can believe in”. Like we all have done, while were single and younger. Looking for an answer in all the wrong places. They sing, “I’ve been out searching, for some kind of savior!” Aren’t we all. That kind of song, where you finally understand the mistakes that you’ve been making, over and over again.

Johanne sings the next anthem against war and violence called “To What End”. Or maybe it is a song about ecology. Either way, the lyrics are important and provide great guidance. She sings, “Stand and deliver. You’re under fire. Out in the troops. You follow orders. You came prepared. You learned the rules. It’s a tooth for a tooth and an eye for eye, till you’re biting your jaw and your blindly fighting on. And you’re grasping and clawing and kicking and scratching and climbing and reaching the top to what end?” The music fits the rhythm perfectly. The duet sings, “Until you’re finally you in the moment of truth. When you’re found in the fountain of youth, face down. To what end? To what end do we breathe? Oh, tell me to what end will this lead? Say you remember!” Then the duet sings the most powerful lyrics on this song, “Once we had nothing. Once we were free. Once we were right. Back in the garden. When we were kids. Before the bite. We were one in tune with the stars and the moon, and the sun and the skies and the rain washing us. But the moment we knew that we wanted the truth was the moment we drew a line and lost”. To what end, do we bleed? To what end do we breathe? ” Are they talking about the Garden of Eden, or just their childhood garden of play? Only they will be able to answer this. I will ask, if given a chance, A powerful song of remembrance and desire to catch what was lost. The strings that follow bring so much heartache with them.

“Today, Tonight, Tomorrow”, is a showcase for Knut Kippersund Nesdal’s voice. He sings, with thoughtful piano accompaniment, “Waiting. I am waiting. At the edge of the light. Watching. Always watching, and staying out of reach. Out of sight. Wanna belong. Wanna be there and dance among them. I wanna feel the fire. Golden heat on my skin”. He sings, “Dream is all I ever do and all I ever dare”. Someone who is like a wallflower maybe, and wants to be a part of something, but fear prevents him from joining in. A sad melancholic song that provides another perspective to the more positive songs on the album. Well performed and epic in its vocal and cinematic music delivery.

“World of Wonder”, opens with deep bass piano keys. This is another of the best songs on the album. A bold instrumental song, with that big piano sound full of charm. The siblings sing, as if from a dream, “Oh a world of wonder. Let us be blind again. So we can see you. Like we did back then”. A wonderful instrumental pause before the album reaches out for its final three songs.

“Mother”, is another beautiful song of reaching out for help from beyond. The siblings sing, “Mother of broken things. Gather us under wings of the words. We never heard. But always knew were written on hidden pages. Save us! Tell another story”. The rest of the lyrics call out for assistance, from a Mother of Broken Things, a savior to make all things right, when all is very wrong. An almost lullaby or prayer. Wonderful in ever way. Another of the best songs on the album. It almost has a Beatles – like ending to it, as well. Maybe they were shooting for a “Let It Be”, for this era. “ Mother Mary comes to me. Speaking words of wisdom, let it be!”

“Something in the Water”, is another of the brilliant, best songs off the album. It has that big bold opening, just like I remember from many of the songs off Playing House. The lyrics are out of this world. Johanne sings, “You have been warned. You won’t be mourned. You had the world. And tied yourself to the throne”. A deep, slow march of melancholic music ensues. She continues, “You had your shot. Untie the knot. You had it all and chose to leave it rot. Enjoy the calm, because a storm is coming!” Sounds like a warning of global warming. They sing, “And all the stuff you took for granted. Will return with the tide from the deep”. A powerful song and warning for us all. Johanne lets loose that cannon of a voice of hers, as the song ends.

“This is the End”, is the magnificent closer you always wanted it to be! It opens with skillfully played piano, before all holds are bared, and the full orchestra rushes forward, like a raging river, complete with mean electric guitar in the lead. Then, Johanne sings, “We are no more than the ashes you spread onto the ocean. Remember us, but oh, forget our fate. The walls we bult will soon be ruins. Crumble to dust and fly off with the wind. One step forward. Breach the border. Guilt and glory. Tell our story. We are the children of our time. These are the crumbs we leave behind. We are the words between the lines. This is the end!” Wow! But, like “Supper’s Ready”; as one world is destroyed, another is created from the ashes. They sing, “The sun will set, on this place that the gods have forsaken. And rise again, on a world that can start to heal. A vacant home will be a shelter. And flowers will bloom from the ashes and dust”. Soft piano takes over after the tumult and seems to lead us to the new beginning. What a closer! Thank you MEER!

MEER’s Wheels Within Wheels, just may end up being my favorite album of the year! It is amazing in every way. The music is deep, powerful, symphonic, cinematic and glorious in every way. But listen hard to the lyrics. Some of the best in a long while. This album is simply perfect. I will be buying it. I hope you will give it a listen and allow it to enrich your experience. Wheels Within Wheels is gold, treat it with care, and cherish it!

Reuniting with producer Lars Gärtner Fremmerlid, MEER recorded the album at Ocean Sound Recordings in 2023, bringing their vision to vivid life.