I’m sure like many of us who love progressive rock, we’re always looking for music that actually progresses.  Of course, we love and adore The Yes Album and Trick of the Tail and Songs from the Wood, but we also want something rooted in that music that goes beyond it as well.

Well, my search, at least for 2026, has ended.  It ended when I discovered the Finnish band, Onsegen Ensemble.  I knew absolutely nothing about them until the great Karisma Records sent Spirit of Cecilia a review copy.

Here’s what the band says about itself:

“ONSÉGEN ENSEMBLE IS A GROUP OF MUSICIANS FROM NORTHERN FINLAND. BEING FAITHFUL TO ITS OWN PURPOSE, THE SPIRITUAL HOME OF ONSÉGEN KEEPS ITS DOORS OPEN FOR EVERYONE TO ENTER. THE MUSIC TAKES YOU TO A MYSTICAL TRIP WITH EXCURSIONS INTO WONDERFULLY CINEMATIC AND FLAMBOYANT LANDSCAPES.”

From the very opening few seconds of the latest album, A Tale, I was hooked.  I’ve remained hooked for all 42 minutes of A Tale now too many times to count.  For what it’s worth, I always buy a personal copy of an album sent to me for review if I love it.  That is, I very much want to support the artists, especially when they trust me with a review copy.  It’s an honor to be on the receiving end of such beauty, and I never want to break that trust.  Just so you know, I bought three copies of A Tale—one for me, and two to give to friends.  That’s how much I love this band and album.

As to specifics. . . the instruments, the vocals, the lyrics are all astounding.  The production is outstanding, a true aural delight.  Truly, I felt like I was being drawn into the musical equivalent of Tolkien’s profound essay “On Fairy Stories.”  Yes, I was entering fairy by listening to this band.

The lyrics are pretty minimal, but they’re excellent nonetheless.  I’m especially taken by the lyrics of track no. three, “A thought”:

“Peace is a thought

Followed by the word. . . . 

Peace is a flame

Lit by devastation

Dependent on shelter

Never meant to fade.”

I have no idea if the word is a Word in the Stoic or Christian or just hippie sense, but I like it nonetheless.  It’s evocative of truth, beauty, and goodness.

As to the music?  Well, it’s original, to be sure.  I hear bits of Traffic, bits of Jethro Tull, bits of Talk Talk, bits of Kate Bush (especially side 2 of Hounds of Love), and bits of David Gilmour.  But, in the end, this is original music. Something straight from the northern most parts of the world.

If you’re looking for something beautiful and original, look no further.  You have reached your destination.

If you’re in the U.S., make sure to patronize our best prog rock store, Band Wagon USA. Elsewhere in the world, get it from Bandcamp.