Flying Norwegians - 1974 - New Day

(43:09; Apollon Records [2021 Edition] )

Track list:
1. Young Man 4:00
2. Time's Drawing Circles 3:42
3. Those Were the Days 4:16
4. Lucky Number 3:28
5. New Day 5:58
6. Behind the Words 3:57
7. Spanish Tragedy 3:22
8. Tricky Lies 3:10
9. Human Need 2:51
10. You'll Come Around 6:01
11. It Ain't Just Another Blow 2:24

Line-up:
Rune Walle - vocals, guitars, banjo, harmonica
Cato Sanden - vocals, guitars
Jarle Zimmermann - vocals, keyboards
Johannes Torkelsen - bass
Gunnar Bergström - drums
with
Harald Dyb - guitars


Norwegian band Flying Norwegians were formed back in 1974, and in their first few years as an active band they released some solid, popular and classic albums in Norwegian music history. "New Day" is the first of these albums, and was originally released back in 1974. In 2021 Norwegian label Apollon Records decided to reissue this album, which had been out of print for a while at that point.

Flying Norwegians have been described as a country rock band, and that is a description that kind of fits and kind of doesn't quite fit too, as this is a band that both ventures way deep into straight forward country territories with their music but that also gleefully takes left turns into rather unexpected places for music described in this manner. In that respect I'd say that this is a band that has a strong spirit of the 1970's about them, being adventurous and unpredictable whilst also managing to stay safely within some expected borders at the same time.

Those fond of steel guitar and plucked guitar details and the distinct type of vocal melodies and vocal harmonies you expect to find by a typical country band will find plenty of that throughout this album. At times bordering some cliches in that department, I suspect most everyone fond of traditional mainstream country from the 1970's and 1980's will find bountiful amounts of familiar sounds, moods and atmospheres to enjoy, up to and including the inclusion of some bluegrass oriented material. Likewise, those who enjoy their Country music mixed with a bit of southern rock and blues rock will get their fill here too, and everything performed and executed with a solid quality stamp through and through. That US band The Ozark Mountain Daredevils decided to recruit guitarist Rune Walle from this band in 1976 is no surprise at all, as the guitar work is excellent throughout.

What gives this album a somewhat unique tinge is the inclusion of other elements. The funk-tinged, borderline psychedelic and progressive rock details that is a part of opening cut 'Young Man', the Caribbean vibes on 'Those Were the Days', the borderline Jethro Tull tinged mood on the gentler 'Human Need', the whimsical attitude of 'Spanish Tragedy' and the progressive rock tendencies that surface here and there in the concluding phase of 'You'll Come Around'. It's an intriguing and interesting mix of elements that aren't all that commonly combined, and in this case at least it works like a charm. That there's something of a fun loving attitude throughout this production probably helps too, and while this may not have been the reality it sounds like the band members are having a blast recording and playing this material, which gives this album something of an infectious, uplifting energy.

I suspect most fans of country music in general and country rock in particular will find plenty of material to enjoy on this album, with common traits of both styles present and executed with a slick and appealing charm. But the inclusion of certain elements arguably a bit more unusual for this type of music should make this album an interesting listen also for people beyond that audience segment, as Flying Norwegians on this album at least were rather adventurous, creative and expressive a bit beyond the norms of their chosen core style. Hence those with a general fascination for bands that are expressive and adventurous inside a rock-related general context might also want to take note of this album being available once again.

Olav M. Björnsen, November 2021

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/flyingnorwegians
https://www.apollonrecords.no/