After 16 years and five studio albums the Norwegian quintet Air Bag now release their first live album called Dysphoria, Live in The Netherlands, recorded at the legendary Boerderij venue in Zoetermeer. Air Bag's first official live album features nine tracks, and the album is a must for guitar addicts, who like Pink Floyd-like guitar playing; meaning: very melancholic and atmospheric, superb guitar picking by Bjorn Riis. Besides Riis, the Air Bag fold on this amazing live album consists of Asle Tostrup (vocals, keyboards), Hendrik Bergan Fossum (drums), Oystein Sootholtet (bass guitar) and Siwen Valldal Johannessen (keyboards). The first CD compromises the entire Air Bag album The Century Of The Self (see review), which was released in 2024; so, the following songs can be enjoyed: Dysphoria (featuring a strong guitar melody and solo, but rather too long), Tyrants And Kings (best song of this album with a virtuoso guitar solo indeed), Awakening, Erase and the epic, excellent prog rock song Tear It Down. CD2 starts with Machines And Men from Air Bag's album A Day At The Beach (2020, see review), followed by Redemption from Greatest Show On Earth (2013, see review) and that track is dominated by a wonderful heavy guitar riff. The last two songs, Never Coming Home and Homesick, are from All Rights Removed (2011, see review) and especially the epic Homesick, clocking in over twenty minutes, is a sheer, melodic prog rock beauty, filled with lots of atmosphere, guitar solos and melodies, giving me goosebumps and reminding me of Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree and Pink Floyd indeed. The vinyl edition of Air Bag's Live in The Netherlands is a must have deluxe gatefold album with an exclusive booklet, and furthermore it is also a limited first pressed white/blue marbled vinyl edition, so a wonderful Xmas present indeed. ****+ Martien Koolen (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
