35 Tapes – Fabric of Time (Apollon Records Prog, 2023)
Norwegian progressive rock band 35 Tapes have released an outstanding album titled Fabric of Time. They ingeniously combine the cherished, gorgeous and timeless sounds of the Mellotron and analog synthesizers with soul-stirring melancholy. Notably, these seasoned maestros are united by a shared affection for progressive rock.
On Fabric of Time you get epic, grand symphonic rock along with delicate passages, beautiful vocals and explosive instrumental crescendos that can blow your socks off. The magic, though, lies not in showy pyrotechnics or dazzling virtuosity. Instead, every talented musician in the group joins into a harmonious union to channel various moods.
The birth of 35 Tapes took place in 2018. The band’s name is an homage to the 35 tantalizing tapes nestled within the Mellotron.
35 Tapes provide insight into their philosophy: “Not too many notes, but the right ones; not fixed chords, but floating, open chords; not virtuoso, but true.”
Previous albums include Lost & Found (Apollon Records, 2019) and Home (Apollon Records, 2021)
Musicians: Morten Lund – Vocals, 6 & 12-string guitars, lap steel, Gizmotron, Mellotron, piano, organ, el piano, Moog Sub 37, Roland Juno 60, Moog Matriarch, Shahi Baaja, Korg Polysix; Jarle Wangen – Vocals & bvox, bass, fretless bass, 6 & 12-string guitars; Jo Wang – Keyboards, organ, piano, Moog Sub 37, Moog Matriarch, Mellotron, Therevox; Andreas Eriksen – Percussion, drums, piano, Roland SH 5 bass, Yamaha YC 45 organ, Roland 808; and Kai Lundewall – Drums, bvox.