‘Solstein’ is the Norwegian for ‘sunstone’, a birefringent form of calcite. It may have been used by the Vikings for navigation in mediaeval times, although that idea is still little more than speculation, as this article on the Wikipedia wiki explains.

“It permits the observer to follow the azimuth of the sun, far below the horizon with an accuracy as great as plus or minus one degree.”

From an article in the Independent newspaper.

But we don’t need a magic crystal these days to find the Solstein album. Just a few clicks on Spotify produces this eight-piece shard of prog/fusion material.

This is the self-titled debut album by a band put together by the multi-instrumentalist, Jacob Holm-Lupo, after working on his DONNER project with drummer Keith Carlock. The other members of the Solstein band are: Stian Larsen (lead guitar) and Brynjar Dambo (keyboards). Together they produce music that drifts through the soft misty spaces that separates prog rock from fusion.

Inspired by jazz-rock, funk, prog rock and chill-out, SOLSTEIN’s is an instrumental form of rock, where jazz harmony combines with proggy arrangements and soul/funk grooves.

Is It Jazz? Records single release announcement