The Lasers Edge presents “The Book of Hours”, the captivating debut release from Norwegian instrumental progressive rock project Agropelter.
Agropelter is the creative outlet of multi-instrumentalist Kay Olsen, a new contender on the blossoming Norwegian prog scene. The music lends as much inspiration from the classic prog groups like Genesis, Camel, King Crimson, and Eloy, as it does from classic composers Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Bach, along with Vangelis and Terje Rypdal.
On the sprawling “The Book of Hours” debut album from Agropelter, listeners will be met with a wealth of lush tones from Mellotron, Hammond organs, ARP, cembalo, Minimoogs, and Taurus bass pedals. With all guitars, bass, church organ, and keyboard leads on the album performed by Kay Olsen, the album also features contributing musicians Jonas Reingold (Steve Hackett, The Flower Kings, Kaipa, Karmakanic) on fretless bass, Andreas Sjøen (Umpfel, VÅDE, Sean Ashe) on drums, and Mattias Olsson (Änglagård, White Willow, Molesome) handling percussion, vintage synth overdubs, and atmosphere, as well as a wide array of classical musicians providing various strings and woodwinds. “The Book of Hours” was mixed and mastered by the great Jacob Holm-Lupo (White Willow, Donner, Solstein) and completed with cover art by Dag E. Clausen.
As the interest in Scandinavian prog rock continues to trend upward, you can count on Agropelter being a part of the action.
The lead single from Agropelter comes in the form of the album’s “The Book of Hours Part II”, which comes paired with a spellbinding, otherworldly video created by Batu Bintas (Imaginatrix).
Olsen reveals: “‘The Book of Hours Part II’ was one of the first ideas I started developing during the writing process for the album. It is a dynamic piece that touches on multiple moods and themes, and I think the video did a great job capturing that”.
“The Book of Hours Part II” video is now playing below.
“The Book of Hours” will be released on CD, LP, and digital platforms on July 25th, 2025. Preorders are now live at The Lasers Edge webshop here and Bandcamp, the standard audio here and the 24 bit hi-res here.
Tracklist:
1. Flute of Peril
2. Levitator
3. Burial Mound
4. The Book of Hours Part I
5. The Book of Hours Part II
6. The Book of Hours Part III
7. The Book of Hours Part IV
