Yelena Eckemoff: Scenes From The Dark Ages (2025) – mini-review

US based artist Yelena Eckemoff is out with the double album “Scenes From The Dark Ages”, and progressive rock is the style explored on this production. It is a bit of a multifaceted take on the instrumental progressive rock tradition we get here, and the composer has been rather creative in the manner these compositions have been set up and executed. We get floating, dreamladen landscapes not too far removed from the likes of Camel here, but also compositions where the organ has a central role to add a more sacral mood and atmosphere to the proceedings. Flowing and elegant jazz and jazzrock is a bit of a staple here too, and all along we get a steady influx of folk music elements and arguably also certain details that adds a little bit of a classical chamber music dimension to the landscapes explored. And while we do get a number of compositions that hone in on the more purebred landscapes described, the norm here is to play around with these various facets and aspects and combine them in a number of different manners. From minimalist jazz and free form inspired jazz movements and all the way to creations reminding more of aforementioned Camel or an artist such as Bo Hansson. A production to seek out by those who enjoy elegant and expressive forays into a landscape that combine elements of and facets inspired by folk music, jazz, classical music and rock inside of an instrumental progressive rock framework.