Meer — „Playing House“ (Jan. 29, 2021)
⇔ Některé věci nemají vydržet. Například zmrzlina nebo západy slunce. A pro zimu  2021 připravené album „Playing House“. Je to zábavná, lehce špinavá záležitost určená pro ty měsíce, ve kterých vše, co chcete udělat, je zapnout ventilátor, ztlumit světla a dobře se bavit. To však neznamená, že nejde o muzikálně znějící album. Norský 8členný alternativní progpopový orchestr MEER vás přivítá masivním zvukem, betálními melodiemi, úžasnými harmoniemi a spoustou překvapení. MEER začali jako duo v Hamaru v Norsku v roce 2008 a od té doby se značně rozšířilo, aby se stalo tím, čím je dnes — osmičlenným eklektickým kolektivem, jehož hudba je mixem orchestrálního popu, klasické hudby a progrocku. S jejich grandiózními smyčcovými aranžemi a polyfonními vokály má zvuk MEER daleko k minimalismu a plyne ve zdánlivě neustálém pohybu.
Location: Hamar, Norway
Album release: Jan. 29, 2021
Record Label: Karisma Records
Duration:     54:46
Tracks:
01. Picking Up The Pieces   6:15
02. Beehive   4:38
03. All At Sea   5:05
04. Songs of Us   4:31
05. Child   4:23
06. You Were A Drum   3:25
07. Honey   5:50
08. Across The Ocean   4:44
09. She Goes   4:17
10. Where Do We Go From Here   4:53
11. Lay It Down   6:45
Personnel:
⇔ Knut Kippersund Nesdal: voice / vocals; Johanne~Margrethe Kippersund Nesdal: voice / vocals; Eivind Strømstad: guitar; Asa Ree: violin; Ingvild Nordstoga Eide: viola; Ole Gjøstøl: piano; Morten Stypet: bass; Mats Lillehaug: drums.
Additional Instrumentation:
⇔ Knut Kippersund Nesdal: keyboards; Eivind Strømstad: electric baritone guitar, mandolin, keyboards; Ole Gjøstøl; keybords, programming, electric organ, glockenspiel, backing vocals; Ingvild Nordstoga Eide: backing vocals; Asa Ree: percussion and backing vocals; Morten Stypet: backing vocals; Mats Lillehaug: backing vocals.

Review
BY GLENN ASTARITA | Jan. 14, 2022 | Score: ★★★★
⇔ Billed as an alternative progressive pop unit, this Norwegian octet skirts progressive rock territory as well. And from a qualitative perspective, the band executes the pop~related choruses with a college education. Lead singers Johanne~Margrethe Kippersund Nisdal (female) and Knut Kippersund~Nedsaf (male) alternate and coalesce throughout these radiantly melodic pieces embedded with strings, keys, guitars, and a rhythm section amid symphonic shadings, quirky segues, kaleidoscopic themes and more.
⇔ With strong compositional frameworks, sparkling arrangements and good cheer, the album seamlessly flows into a wonderland via the band’s resilient and at times, power~packed delivery. The band spins a broad wall of sound, tinted with progressive rock~like passages and soft, ethereal vocals that sail with the wind due to Asa Ree’s nimble violin plucking and wistful subplots, leading to a brisk pulse sprinkled with harmonious lines.
⇔ It’s a full~bodied production with background EFX treatments, streaming strings, and shadowy colorizations. Yet, “Honey” features Mats Lillehaug’s thumping rock beats in concert with a synth bass ostinato, followed by Johanne Kippersund Nesdal’s pensive iterations atop driving beats, while building a bit of tension along the way, joined by Knut Kippersund Nesdal’s vocalese, and flourishing toward a straight~four rock groove. Akin to other tracks, the musicians dole out memorable hooks, salving strings overlays and poignant lyricism that progresses with the imagery of a late~night tale, narrated with the lights out. — AllAboutJazz
⇔ https://www.allaboutjazz.com/playing-house-meer-karisma-records
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MEERmusikk
BC: https://meer.bandcamp.com/album/playing-house
SF: https://open.spotify.com/album/3ybm5umqWul24X4CQvkscr?autoplay=true