Wobbler

[chalkpie]

Been listening to this on earbuds and auto stereo since it arrived.....I thought, Meh.....Last night, I put it on the big Home Stereo and WOW! It was like a whole different release! I do hear some Yes and Gentle Giant.....and Riverside! But, Mostly I hear Wobbler.

Will spend some more time with this over the next week on the Big Unit......Also with Transitus......Fall is here.....get out the Scotch...start a fire in the fireplace and discover new Prog! The BEST way to sit out a Pandemic.

Excellent. I have the vinyl but haven't cleaned/played it yet. I dig it on headphones but I need the family to step out for a moment to properly crank this thing. Yes to fall, scotch, fires, etc

[boilk]

A couple of spins in now, and I am really liking this one. I don't really hear that much Jon in his voice. He just sings in a similar range. Bob Drake (Thinking Plague, 5UUs) or Phil Naro (Druckfarben), sound a lot more like Jon to me. He doesn't quite have the power to carry the odd heavier passages in the music, which could use it, but other than that, I like his vocals just fine.

This is a really solid album from top-to-bottom, to my ears. Not a weak track in the bunch. The first twos songs are sturdy prog work outs, with lots of emphasis on keys. I'm surprised that the third track, Naiad Dreams hasn't gotten more love, as I think it's a great song, with a nice melody and some beautiful acoustic guitar on it. Merry Macabre is a monster of a closer, with much more emphasis on guitar and it's loaded with killer riffs. A very satisfying finish.

Of course, it is very reminiscent of 70s prog, but I don't hear the references being as overt, as on some previous releases. Even if the sound isn't new, the songs are, and if you think that there is still more to be said in the realm of 70s, symphonic prog, then there is a lot to like on this album.

neil

[Scrotum Scissor]

Listening again now, after laying it off for two weeks.

It's a good album. But it's very much an experience of "sameness" and thus a question of whether or not you'll want more of what you've already had - or not. I suppose it's catering to the motion of imagining Your Fave Artist having done yet one more of your fave title - one more Selling England, one more Close to the Edge pr Per Un Amico, or one more Rotter's Club. After distilling and digesting for some time, the main impression is that of fairly moderate movement within an already out-defined mode of expression.

It's the pendulum clock-complex; by definition we know what it is, but the incentive of purchase and amendment is usually one of very differing motives and emotions. Still, it only tells the time in the fashion of that very intended action.

Back in the golden days, "sympho-lympho" lasted for a few handful of years of general contemporary development, then went out of favour due to natural and organic cultural mechanics of deviation in time and space. This "retro-symph" thing has now been enduring nearly 30 years of fine recovery (since Landberk and the likes were chasing "genuinity in 'prog' spirit and antic"), but it can only stay the same in terms of sub-aesthetic relevance for oh-so-long before seriously going out of interest with even its most ardent followers. And in contrast to what some folks appear to be assuming, this also goes for so-called "avant-prog" reassessments of artistic and musical importance. Those motions of charge simply aren't pulling the same strings of artistic poignancy any more.

Bands like Wobbler, Panzerpappa, even the Jaga Jazzists and/or Motorpsychos, should transform their craft and identity by task of analysis as to whom and what is happening in western society today. They could make records with shorter tunes, more or less vocals, other traits etc. Just, for goodness' sake, keep developing, evolving and progressing.

That's what art is and always was in the face of doom and destruction.

[Scrotum Scissor]

I cannot get "Merry Macabre" out of my head. Every day for the past week. That damned song is super stuck in my head

This is where it gets tricky, because I basically agree - to the point where I'm left with the question of whether we've all somehow "misunderstood" the fundamental concept of bands like Wobb.

The "conventional" logic of interpreting artistic representations like Wobbler's is indeed that of the classic (Aristotlean) mimesis function - which by definition implies a level of receptionist consciousness or knowledge - but I'm not so sure anymore about Wobbler. When Dungen first appeared on the international scene, they very obviously broke with this pattern of cultural reception and established their own logic of pretense as regarded historical recreation, whereby inviting a recension strictly on its own contemporary terms. And I have come to believe that this is perhaps what Lars and the Wopps are now attempting with their recent output; what if we gave a short shit about the classics and rather just attempted to receive and digest the sound for what it makes?

To that end, "Merry Macabre" and especially its exquisite ending garners full-house acclamation.

[Zappathustra]

And I have come to believe that this is perhaps what Lars and the Wopps are now attempting with their recent output; what if we gave a short shit about the classics and rather just attempted to receive and digest the sound for what it makes?

I am pretty sure that this is the case. There is some sort of innocence in Dwellers of the Deep in my opinion, which is not present in Rites of Dawn - this last one is clearly more self-conscious in its intentions.
But in order for this sort of argument to be convincing to others, to allow others to participate in the same forgetfulness and innocence, one need to excel in terms of the energy involved in making the music, to really abandon all pretense that this is new, to take the whole concept to extremes. Wobbler was closer to this in From Silence to Somewhere than in this latest.

In my opinion bands like Maschera di Cera and Ring Van Mobius did way better this year in this respect. But of course the most obvious example is MrBungle's latest record. It's like erasing whatever happened in music in the last 35 years, and with a completely unexpected gesture to offer "retro" record that defies any developments in music and at the same time destroys the retro concept because it presents itself as "better" than anything that came from the scene then. And therefore, it is a development on its own merit.

But of course this works only because of the immense quantities of energy and passion that these guys invested in the project.

[chalkpie]

I agree Richard....its like having a great meal of the same cuisine I know I love. The entire LP artwork, etc its all good stuff and the olde school aspect is too enticing to pass up. I will autobuy their next one too.

[Scrotum Scissor]

I'm surprised that the third track, Naiad Dreams hasn't gotten more love, as I think it's a great song, with a nice melody and some beautiful acoustic guitar on it.

Side 2 is where to go, I think.

[Le Master]

I'm surprised that the third track, Naiad Dreams hasn't gotten more love, as I think it's a great song, with a nice melody and some beautiful acoustic guitar on it.

I love the first minute and a half. A lot. But I don't like their decision for the key change at: "Listen to the voices of the Naiad girls. Dancing by the pool where the mighty [key change]river swirls." Just uncomfortable and ugly.

And it doesn't feel like much of standalone song. Makes me wonder if it wouldn't have done better as part of a larger song.

[mozo-pg]

I bought the one Dwellers CD for myself and one for a friend. It has not arrived since Oct 23 so I contacted the band's website. Two CD's on their way from Norway (instead of Spain).

[Le Master]

At this point, I'm really only listening to "By the Banks" and "Five Rooms" in my regular music rotations. Both feel like they could have been on Rites at Dawn, especially "By the Banks."

"Merry Macabre" still feels like a bunch of half-baked pretty good ideas haphazardly strung together. There's nothing there demanding my attention from beginning to end.

[chalkpie]

https://wobbler.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2003

The original demos are now available for purchase via Bandcamp....you know those two tunes.

[polmico]

Wobbler fans would be well served picking up the Chronicles of Father Robin album. It’s quite good.

[Crawford Glissadevil]

Wobbler fans would be well served picking up the Chronicles of Father Robin album. It’s quite good.

For sure. Been spinning it at least once a day.

[Progatron]

Wow, is this thread really over ten years old? That's the length of time between Trespass and Duke. And here we are still talking about this stuff! I notice at least three members no longer with us just from the first page alone...

[chalkpie]

^ Wobbler went on before the Froggs at NF 2005 - we were listening to them in the dressing room on the PA or whatever...almost 20 years ago! Time is so elusive to us.

[JKL2000]

Wobbler fans would be well served picking up the Chronicles of Father Robin album. It’s quite good.

For sure. Been spinning it at least once a day.

I've been listening to it daily too. Wobbler is the one of the sepia-toned bands that Father Robin reminds me of most, because of the vocals, but also because it has a similar combination of "complexity" and accessibility (I say "complexity," but neither band's music is very complex). I do also hear some of Anglagard in Father Robin.

[Aquatarkus]

For sure. Been spinning it at least once a day.

Me too! looking forward to the next volumes! Wobbler fans should love this to death!

[Staun]

Love it!! More please.

[JAMOOL]

listening to "Eleisian Forest" - very nice. actually sounds a lot like Nektar to me. so let me get this straight, Vol 2 and 3 are already out but only in a boxset? and they do plan to release all 3 separately?

[Progatron]

listening to "Eleisian Forest" - very nice. actually sounds a lot like Nektar to me. so let me get this straight, Vol 2 and 3 are already out but only in a boxset? and they do plan to release all 3 separately?

Yes, there is a vinyl box with all three 'chapters', but thus far only chapter one has made it to CD, with the others to follow.

[JKL2000]

Yes, there is a vinyl box with all three 'chapters', but thus far only chapter one has made it to CD, with the others to follow.

It should be the other way around.

[JAMOOL]

looks like there's a Vol. 1 standalone vinyl too, maybe best to get 'em seprately because the boxset looks expensive as hell. wonder if any US distributors will get them...doesn't look like anythings showing up on Discogs yet

[Crawford Glissadevil]

looks like there's a Vol. 1 standalone vinyl too, maybe best to get 'em seprately because the boxset looks expensive as hell. wonder if any US distributors will get them...doesn't look like anythings showing up on Discogs yet

I think Greg at Syn-Phonic Records has the Box Set. LaserCD has the single CD and Vinyl.