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Toy Weather — Feathers in a Strange Wind
(Apollon Records AP218, 2026, CD / LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-04-25

Feathers in a Strange Wind Cover art

Toy Weather’s Svein Hovland says that Van der Graaf Generator is a big influence on him, but listening to the music on Feathers in a Strange Wind, that comparison would never come to mind. His voice is more than a little reminiscent of Tim Bowness, so anyone familiar with No-Man will likely have that in their mind, though Toy Weather’s music is not built on the mostly-electronic instrumentation that No-Man is known for. Hovland himself plays guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion, getting help from Frank Hovland (bass), Kåre Kalvenes (bass and arranging), Rune Kogstad (drums and percussion); Per Myklebust and Tore Johansen are both credited with bass and piano samples. Toy Weather is comparable in some ways with other melodic prog-oriented bands from Norway, though definitely leaning more towards concise and accessible songs than anything extended or complex. The keyboards favor the tones of organ, piano, and Mellotron, though not obsessively so. Tracks like “Wild Geese,” “Days,” and “All in the Book” strike a good balance between mid-tempo rock along the lines of Pink Floyd and the mellower side of Porcupine Tree, and there’s nothing longer than five minutes. Feathers in a Strange Wind won’t blow any minds with impressive technique or killer riffs, but it’s full of well-written songs that are full of tasty moments.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Toy Weather

More info
http://toyweather.bandcamp.com/album/feathers-in-a-strange-wind

 

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