Detailed Reviews [Tusmorke - 2019 - "Leker For Barn, Ritualer For Voksne"]

Prolusion. Norwegian band Tusmorke have their roots and origins in the town of Skien in Norway, which incidentally is my own birth town, and the first incarnation of the band was formed there back in 1994 but under a different moniker. Since 2009 they have been using the Tusmorke band name, and have been releasing new material at a steady and regular pace starting from 2012 with ten full length productions to their name as of 2023. "Leker For Barn, Ritualer For Voksne" is their seventh album and dates back to 2019, and was released through Norwegian label Karisma Records.

Analysis. A defining aspect of the recording history of Tusmorke is that they release albums with music made for children at regular intervals. They have three such production to their name so far, and this 2019 album is the second of those. What makes this album a bit special also in this part of the band history is that many of the songs featured on this album actually are traditional children's songs, some with rewritten or expanded lyrics, but compositions that most Norwegians know by heart in their original form. Some of them will be recognizable also by people from other nations, due to some of these traditionals being Norwegianized versions of songs with an origin in traditional English children's songs or folk songs. Such as the version of 'Ring a Ring of Roses' that can be found on this album. Still, while this is mainly a children's album, this isn't a production made without thought are care for the parents that have to listen to this material. With plenty of nuggets for fans of folk music in particular as well as progressive rock to be found in the landscapes explored here. While we only get a token few songs that have more of a defined progressive rock orientation here, they are most certainly present, and have been approached and executed in a manner that will make them almost as intriguing for the adults as they will be for the children listening to this album. Some of these songs are actually fairly dark and ominous in mood and atmosphere too, which is a bit of a welcome change from the always bright, sunny and jubilant landscapes so many artists prefer to create for children to listen to. Children also understand and resonate with the darker emotions, and it is so rewarding to come across people making music for that demography that understand this. Most of the songs revolve around a more defined folk music foundation though, and the band have made some interesting choices along the way here too. Quite a few of the songs that have more of a traditional folk music foundation have been given a little bit of a jazz-oriented makeover, transforming the mood and the atmosphere of those songs in a neat and elegant manner. On the other side of the coin, some of the children's songs with a bit more of a later day legacy are explored through the use of older folk music elements and instruments, giving them a more ancient mood and atmosphere than what is actually the case. These aren't details that any of the children will notice, but I rather suspect that many parents will appreciate this kind of ear candy for songs some of them may have heard hundreds of times. As always with this band and their children's albums, the band makes sure to include a liberal array of whimsical and funny sounds and effects, odd rhythms and other details that children listening to the music will gravitate towards. Children like encountering unusual details, especially if they are a bit whimsical in nature, and Tusmorke has a great understanding of this being the case and use that knowledge to good effect throughout. That children participate themselves in just about all of the songs here is also an element that is attractive for children listening to this album, especially when their contribution is present in such a seamless and natural manner as it is on these children's music albums crafted by Tusmorke. This is a well made album on a number of different levels, although with many details demanding a knowledge about Norwegian traditional children's music and traditional folk music to be heard and understood. With the all Norwegian language of the songs as well, and this an album clearly made for children first and adults second. This is also a production that will have a limited appeal beyond the Norwegian shores. But for what this album is I do find it to be quite the solid and intriguing production, with a few moments of magic appearing along the way too.

Conclusion. While this isn't an album that will ever appeal to a dedicated progressive rock interested audience, or at least not an audience of this kind without a deep knowledge about the Norwegian, culture in general and traditional children's songs in particular, for those with this knowledge and understanding this is a production that will have quite a bit of an appeal. While this album just can't be compared to material made strictly for adults, I find it to be a solid and well made children's album that offer more depth and elegance for the parents listening to it than many other albums of children's music out there. My impression is that the band take the children they are creating this music for more seriously on a few different levels than many other creators targeting the same demographic too. A strong and solid production, but for a finite and niche demographic of which few live outside of the borders of Norway.

Progmessor: August 2023
The Rating Room