The album cover for Remnants of Light by Needlepoint features a black-and-white hand-drawn illustration with a folk-art aesthetic. A barefoot figure, dressed in loose clothing, sits on the ground surrounded by scattered leaves, resting their head on one hand in a contemplative pose. Around them, several crows gather, seemingly engaged in an interaction with the leaves. Behind them, bare trees, a stone wall, and a distant village. Above, a vast flock of birds forms a flowing pattern in the sky.

A Fine Needle in the Prog Haystack

Needlepoint – Remnants of Light (BJK Music, 2024)

With Remnants of Light, their sixth album, Needlepoint continue to carve out a singular space within Norway’s progressive rock landscape. Notably, Needlepoint crafts an intimate, song-centered style, imbued with poetic lyricism and a sense of childlike wonder.

The band’s ability to fuse introspective calm with pastoral folk-rock recalls the gentler side of classic prog-rock, yet they elevate this foundation with masterfully woven Canterbury-inspired structures and a hypnotic psychedelic edge. The warm, Caravan-like lead vocals and beautifully-crafted Crosby Stills Nash and Young-influenced backing vocals exude both joy and vulnerability, acting as a magnetic centerpiece. Meanwhile, the superb vintage keyboards and guitars transport the listener straight to the golden era of progressive rock, evoking a time when musical exploration felt boundless.

Undoubtedly, Remnants of Light is a fantastic progressive rock release by one of Europe’s finest acts.

Musicians: Bjørn Klakegg on lead vocals, electric guitars, acoustic guitars (on #7 and #9), flute, fiddle, hurdy-gurdy; Erlend Slettevoll on electric piano, Hammond organ, clavinet, acoustic piano, prophet-5, ARP Odyssey, Minimoog, backing vocals on #5; Nikolai Hængsle on electric bass, backing vocals, lead vocals (on #6), acoustic guitars (on #3, #5, #6 and #8), electric guitars (on #2, #5 and #6), glockenspiel, Moog Taurus, percussion; and Ola Øverby on drums, congas, percussion, backing vocals on #5.

Additional musicians: Solveig Wang on clarinet on #7, backing vocals on #5; Ingrid Støylen Runde on backing vocals on #5; and Camilla Brun on backing vocals on #5 and #6.

Artwork and lettering by Rune Klakegg

Buy Remnants of Light.

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