Review: Procosmian Fannyfiddlers - Requiem Fatigue (2009)

Procosmian Fannyfiddlers are a seven-member Norwegian band, formed in 1995 in Trondheim. Their music is an eclectic mix of folk and rock presented a humorous fashion and at times very intricate form. Here's my impression of their 2009 release and my first listening experience of this Norwegian group.






I've heard of Procosmian Fannyfiddlers before but never did listen to them. This is therefore my first exposure to their music; Music, which is eclectic in nature, drawing from folk and rock, lyrics that are at the same time serious but funny; this is a band that is to be taken lightly and seriously at the same time.

This is a funny album. Read the lyrics and listen to the goofy tunes and the way they're played. From the cover of the album down to the lyrics and the cheerful tunes, this album just oozes from silliness and I find it fun to listen to.

Requiem Fatigue is their eighth (8) album, said to be written on acoustic guitar. The music is frenetic but not overwhelming with a wide instrumental palate: guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, violin, flute, piano and vocals. This last "instrument", the vocals, which each member "plays", are a driving force in each song, led by Hebbe Santos (female lead vocals) and Pronographic Johnson (with his rasp and drunken-sounding vocals). At times I was reminded, for some reason, of Hammers Of Misfortune's vocals, particularly in their first work, The Bastard, where a medieval-like, troubadour-like vocals type is employed. This is first and foremost what gives the Fannyfiddlers' charm. To that is added their intricate playing, shifting time signatures and humorous lyrics.

A melodic affair, this album is entertaining with explicit language and weird and funny stories with each song having a distinct melodic line. But I sense a lot of people will be deterred by the style of this band and what may appear as amateurish and completely silly approach. Reviews I've read on other websites (DPRP and Sea Of Tranquility) prove this assumption. However, while I don't subscribe to their disdain of this release and while finding merits in this album and its music, I can understand why they prefer to veer out of its way. But for me the downsides in this album have more to do with the musicianship and vocals (which at times have a fault) and with being too goofy for humour's sake (as I perceive it, which may very well be totally wrong).

That being said, if you'd like to venture out into "foreign and uncharted" progressive territories and listen to something unusual, even if not of too high quality or standards as others perceive it, then this eccentric release is a good place to try it out.