35 Tapes - Veil On Life (CD)
This is an Apollon Records release.
The Norwegian progressive collective, 35 Tapes, returns with their fourth studio album Veil on Life. It’s a six-track record that pushes the band into a more powerful, driven register while preserving their signature analogue warmth and modern clarity. Recorded at Frydenlund Studio – the same environment that shaped their previous album Fabric of Time – the album leans further into the band’s audiophile instincts, with a wide dynamic range, bold low end, punchy drums and immersive stereo imaging, whilst remaining grounded in tactile vintage hardware. Songwriting is tight and meaningful, favouring memorable hooks and grooves that sit comfortably alongside the song’s cinematic passages.
Where Fabric of Time played as a slow-burning homage to 1970s symphonic rock with a contemporary touch, Veil on Life feels current and assertive. The lyrics address memory, identity and time, each in their own way. For example, Hallway builds up a meditative distance that nudges the listener into relaxation, whilst Waters takes the listener on an evolutionary journey. Brisé Volé encourages self-scrutiny, whereas Clueless is restless and yearning, and Cities explores urban longing. Instrumentally the band still leans on Mellotron, Therevox and vintage synths. But this recording is driven by energetic electric guitars and shimmering 12-string acoustics, all backed by a warm 70s-style bass and firm rhythms that add texture and weight while preserving the band’s atmospheric songcraft.
Fans of 35 Tapes restrained cinematic prog will recognise the band’s typical warm, spacious mixes, while being introduced to new forceful soundscapes. Veil on Life balances the band’s tasteful restraint with boosted emotional confidence, delivered with discipline rather than excess.
Personnel:
- Jarle Wangen: bass, guitars, vocals
- Morten Lund: guitars, keyboards, vocals (producer)
- Jo Wang: keyboards, Therevox
- Andreas Eriksen: keyboards, percussion
- Kai Lundewall: drums, vocals
- Frank Lewis: live sound, recording engineer, guitar amps, circuit wizard
Tracks:
- 1. Hallway
- 2. Waters
- 3. Brise Vole
- 4. Borrowed Time
- 5. Clueless
- 6. Cities
Format: CD
Artist: 35 Tapes
Release Date: April 30, 2026