Jordsjø & Breidablik – Kontraster (Apollon Records Prog, 2025)
To celebrate a decade of outstanding musical exploration, two of Norway’s most noteworthy progressive acts, Jordsjø and Breidablik, have teamed up for Kontraster, a split album that wears its concept proudly in the title. The project presents two 20-minute epics that represent both complements and counterpoints, highlighting the distinct creative voices of each band while deepening their shared commitment to the spirit of progressive rock.
Rather than offering a seamless fusion, Kontraster thrives on tension, distinction, and dialog. Jordsjø’s contribution unfolds like a pastoral suite carved from the fjordlands, combining soft-spoken and mesmerizing vocals, elegant piano lines, and flute passages that evoke the early morning rural landscapes of Norway. The band’s symphonic touch, at times reminiscent of Änglagård, is buoyed by Håkon Oftung’s expressive guitar work and an instinct for melodic storytelling that feels rooted in both Nordic folklore and 1970s prog-rock grandeur.
Breidablik, by contrast, casts its gaze to the stars. Known for their deep affinity with Berlin School electronics, they contribute a side steeped in retro-futurism and kosmische atmospheres. Synths pulse and shimmer in slow motion, echoing the hypnotic journeys of Tangerine Dream and Ashra, yet with a detail that feels freshly sculpted. Their track unfolds layer upon layer, like a time-lapse of ice melting or clouds forming, and offers a meditative counterbalance to Jordsjø’s more narrative-driven piece.
“This album feels like the perfect way to honor where we’ve come from and the pioneers who shaped the sound we love,” says Jordsjø founder Håkon Oftung. “It’s a celebration of contrasts, of the different ways progressive rock can express itself yet still remain true to its roots.”
Breidablik echoes the sentiment, describing the album as “a testament to the unity found in the contrasting influences and styles that make progressive music so endlessly fascinating.”
Ultimately, Kontraster is a statement about the elasticity of a genre cherished by many and often dismissed by the mainstream music media. By leaning into their differences rather than smoothing them out, Jordsjø and Breidablik manage something rare: a split record that feels whole.
Musicians:
Jordsjø: Hakon Oftung on vocals, guitars, flute, keyboards; and Kristian Frøland on drums, percussion.
Breidablik: Hakon Oftung on guitars, flute; Morten Birkeland Nielsen on synthesizers; and Trond Gjellum on drums.
Buy Kontraster.