Record Reviews

ANEKDOTEN ~ A TIME OF DAY VIRTA 005 (Barcode: 7320470083093) ~ SWEDEN ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2006 - 2007 Released: 2007 5th album by the legendary Swedish Prog band AnekdotenFind albums by this artist, which together with other Swedish bands like AnglagardFind albums by this artist and Isildurs BaneFind albums by this artist are responsible for defining the so called Scandinavian Prog sound. The band released an album every 3-4 years since 1993, maintaining an almost unchanged lineup since formation, as well as being stylistically consistent and remarkably creative. The four musicians (Peter NordinsFind albums by this artist – drums, Anna Sofi DahlbergFind albums by this artist – mellotron, Nicklas BarkerFind albums by this artist – mellotron and guitar and Jan Erik LiljeströmFind albums by this artist – bass) play a vast array of instruments and manage to create the famous “wall of sound” effect using the double mellotron (or mellotron and moog) instrumentation. The Nordic melancholy and gloominess are predominant, but they carry all the mystic and enchanting elements upon which the musical tapestries are woven. The vocal parts (with English lyrics) are an integral part of the overall sound and are kept on the same (musical) plane with the instrumental parts, rather than being pushed to the foreground. This album is every bit as monumental as its predecessors, with slightly less aggressive approach than the first two releases (mellowing with age?) but not one iota less daring or brilliant. Guest flutist Gunnar BergstenFind albums by this artist contributes a few remarkable solos, bringing the sound of the band closer than ever to the sound of the sadly disbanded Anglagard. Although one does not expect anything less than brilliance from a band of such statue, the result simply overshadows all expectations, blessing us with another masterpiece. This is an absolute must for all Scandinavian Prog fans and perhaps a golden opportunity to enter the enchanted world of the Nordic musical wonders for those who are still not familiar with them.

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ANEKDOTEN ~ VEMOD VIRTA 001 (Barcode: 7320470044124) ~ SWEDEN ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1993 Released: 2003 1st album by AnekdotenFind albums by this artist, one of the most interesting Swedish Prog groups, which uses two mellotrones and heavy guitar. Gloomy and mysterious sound and quirky melodies with many tempo changes make this album a fascinating listening experience and a perfect example of the Scandinavian Prog sound, placing the group among other top Swedish peers like AnglagardFind albums by this artist and Isildurs BaneFind albums by this artist.

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	ANGLAGARD ~ BURIED ALIVE MUSEA 4167 (Barcode: 3426300041678) ~ SWEDEN ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1994 Released: 1996 3rd and final album by this legendary Swedish group AnglagardFind albums by this artist, recorded live at Progfest at their farewell concert. All the elements that made this group famous are here, including the delicate flute work and the mellotron solos.
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ANGLAGARD ~ EPILOG ANGLAGARD 02 (Barcode: 7320470123362) ~ SWEDEN ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1994 Released: 2010 2nd album by the legendary Swedish Prog group AnglagardFind albums by this artist. All the elements that made them such a great success with Prog lovers all around the world are present here, although this albums is slightly "darker" then the debut. Dellicate flute and mellotron instrumental passages are brilliant and the use of a string section adds depth and beauty. This is magnificent music! This new edition includes an additional CD-Single with a new recording (from 2008-2009) of a song originally written when the band existed in the early 1990s.

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ANGLAGARD ~ HYBRIS ANGLAGARD 01 (Barcode: 7320470038598) ~ SWEDEN ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1992 Released: 2010 1st album by the brilliant Swedish Prog group AnglagardFind albums by this artist. Almost instantly after the release of this album the band acheived international fame and their debut release is considered as one of the finest Prog albums ever recorded. Unfortunately they managed to record only one more album before disbanding 2 years later. The band´s legendary status and the album´s fame are one of Prog`s greatest highlights. This editions includes one bonus track recorded in 1993.

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CHAOS CODE ~ A TAPESTRY OF AFTERTHOUGHTS NOT ON LABEL ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1999 Released: 1999 This is the 1st album by the excellent US Prog group Chaos CodeFind albums by this artist, which on this album consists of guitarist Cliff PhelpsFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Marty SalettaFind albums by this artist, bassist Philip RousFind albums by this artist and drummer Daniel SquillaroFind albums by this artist. They play an incredible "retro" Prog, which sounds as if it was recorded at the peak of the genre in mid-1970s. Superb instrumental work by all the participants and excellent compositions make this a little-known gem of rare quality. The use of flute and brass add additional layers of sound to the overall effect. Those few familiar with the album often suggest that the band displays somewhat Scandinavian feel, like AnglagardFind albums by this artist, but regardless of what this music reminds the listener, it is simply gorgeous. This is definitely one of the nicest Prog albums recorded at the close of last Century. A must to any serious Prog fan!

Updated: 18/04/2020Posted:

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CHAOS CODE ~ PROPAGANDA NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 613285931022) ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2004 - 2005 Released: 2005 This is the 3rd album by the excellent US Prog group Chaos CodeFind albums by this artist, which on this album consists of guitarist Cliff PhelpsFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Barry CaudillFind albums by this artist, bassist Gary CurtisFind albums by this artist and drummer Patrick GaffneyFind albums by this artist (see Cerebus EffectFind albums by this artist). They retain the same sound and musical direction of the two superb preceding albums with emphasis on even more complex instrumental parts. They play an incredible "retro" Prog, which sounds as if it was recorded at the peak of the genre in mid-1970s. Superb instrumental work by all the participants and excellent compositions make this a little-known gem of rare quality. The use of flute and brass add additional layers of sound to the overall effect. Those few familiar with the album often suggest that the band displays somewhat Scandinavian feel, like AnglagardFind albums by this artist, but regardless of what this music reminds the listener, it is simply gorgeous. A must to any serious Prog fan!

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CHAOS CODE ~ THE TRAGEDY OF LEAPS AND BOUNDS NOT ON LABEL ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2001 - 2002 Released: 2002 This is the 2nd album by the excellent US Prog group Chaos CodeFind albums by this artist, which on this album consists of guitarist Cliff PhelpsFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Ton LanganFind albums by this artist, bassist Gary CurtisFind albums by this artist and drummer Patrick GaffneyFind albums by this artist (see Cerebus EffectFind albums by this artist). In spite of the almost completely new lineup, they retain the same sound and musical direction of the superb debut album, with more instrumental parts this time. They play an incredible "retro" Prog, which sounds as if it was recorded at the peak of the genre in mid-1970s. Superb instrumental work by all the participants and excellent compositions make this a little-known gem of rare quality. The use of flute and brass add additional layers of sound to the overall effect. Those few familiar with the album often suggest that the band displays somewhat Scandinavian feel, like AnglagardFind albums by this artist, but regardless of what this music reminds the listener, it is simply gorgeous. A must to any serious Prog fan!

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DEADWOOD FOREST ~ MELLODRAMATIC DWF 035 (Barcode: 733792348028) ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2001 Released: 2001 2nd album by this Texan Prog group Deadwood ForestFind albums by this artist, which sounds like the US answer to AnglagardFind albums by this artist, the excellent Swedish group, and was produced by one of Anglagard`s members. Full of Mellotron of course. Dramatic and lyrical, with some great instrumental passages and good lead vocals. Definitely one of the best US Prog releases ever.

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ERGO SUM ~ MIXOLIDIO ROCK SYMPHONY 045 (Barcode: 7898217280451) ~ CHILE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1999 - 2001 Released: 2001 2nd album by the great Chilean Prog group Ergo SumFind albums by this artist. Following their excellent eponymous debut album, the band went through a personnel change (a new bassist and drummer) with the original drummer switching to vibraphone, which enhanced their sound considerably. The also updated their musical approach considerably, switching from symphonic Prog to a much more ambitious material, jazzier and more improvised them before. Late King CrimsonFind albums by this artist and Scandinavian groups like AnglagardFind albums by this artist could serve as reference points, but the music is quite unique and original. The album consists of several studio tracks and a long suite called “Trilogia” performed live. This is a very strong album in every respect, which puts the group in the same category with other excellent Chilean groups like TryoFind albums by this artist and Akinetón RetardFind albums by this artist. This is a reissue of the original LP, with 2 added tracks recorded especially for this CD edition. Wholeheartedly recommended!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

THIEVES` KITCHEN ~ THE WATER ROAD TK 4 (Barcode: 634479659010) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 4th album by British (well almost) Prog band Thieves` KitchenFind albums by this artist, which comes five years after their splendid previous release ShibbolethFind albums with this title – quite a long time of course, but plainly worth the delay in view of the result. TK are one of the very few bands, which manages to make giant leaps between consecutive albums, all in the right direction. Each of their albums has not only been different stylistically and conceptually, but they consistently keep growing up and expanding their musical and lyrical vocabulary. Whereas the last album took them into the ambitious RIO direction, this one takes another turn and brings the band very closely to Scandinavian Prog, with Isildurs BaneFind albums by this artist and AnglagardFind albums by this artist coming to mind almost immediately. The fact that the band has a Scandinavian member (ex-AnglagardFind albums by this artist keyboards player) and a few of the guest musicians on this album are Scandinavians as well might have something to do with this, but I prefer to give them the credit for choosing this path as part of their intentional direction-seeking. In view of the fact that Scandinavian Prog is definitely the most advanced and aesthetically rewarding on the contemporary Prog scene, TK could have chosen no better bearing than this. Fronted by the remarkable vocalist Amy DarbyFind albums by this artist, the band includes also four exceptional instrumentalist: Phil MercyFind albums by this artist – guitars, Thomas JohnsonFind albums by this artist – keyboards, Andy BonhamFind albums by this artist – bass and Mark RobothamFind albums by this artist – drums. Although Darby’s vocal parts are the most striking and immediately noticeable feature, there are plenty of great instrumental parts here, which are worth listening to attentively. Darby (as I already mentioned in my review of the previous album, her first with TK) continues the great tradition of outstanding unconventional female vocalist like Julie TippettsFind albums by this artist (Julie DriscollFind albums by this artist) and Annette PeacockFind albums by this artist. On this album she also occasionally reminds me of Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist, another great model to follow. As if her singing abilities are not sufficient, Derby also wrote all the original lyrics on this album (two of the tracks feature lyrics translated from Chinese and one uses Sanskrit) and took care of the elegant and exquisite graphic design of the album’s artwork (and the band’s web site). Definitely a talented lady! The music is mostly contemplative, slowly developing the intricate melodies, with plenty of breathing space and long instrumental passages. Expanding the band with guest musicians playing flute, cello, oboe, saxophone and other instruments, the music receives a loving treatment and intimate chamber character. Kudos to TK for creating this beautiful piece of music. I only hope that many people will enjoy this album as much as I have. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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TRETTIOÅRIGA KRIGET ~ I BÖRJAN OCH SLUTET MELLOTRONEN 023 (Barcode: 7320470086247) ~ SWEDEN ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2006 - 2007 Released: 2007 7th album by the legendary Swedish Prog band Trettioåriga KrigetFind albums by this artist (The Thirty Years War) and the 2nd recorded after the band reunited in 2002. All the original band members: Stefan FredinFind albums by this artist (bass & vocals), Dag LundquistFind albums by this artist (drums), Christer ÅkerbergFind albums by this artist (guitars), Robert ZimaFind albums by this artist (lead vocals) and Mats LindbergFind albums by this artist (keyboards) as well as the lyricist Olle ThörnvallFind albums by this artist take part in the recording. The music continues on a similar track established by the 1st reunion album (Elden Av ÅrFind albums with this title) and is in fact the 2nd part of a planned trilogy, similar to the trilogy that the band created on the first 3 albums recorded 30 years ago. The overall atmosphere of the album is more melancholic and laid back than the previous album, with strong bass lines and beautiful mellotron work painting the typical dark Scandinavian musical vistas. It’s obvious that the band has a lot of music left yet for us to enjoy. This music requires several listening sessions to sink in, but is full of beauty and profound musical pleasures. Considering that this band served once as an inspiration to a whole generation of Swedish Prog bands (LandberkFind albums by this artist, AnglagardFind albums by this artist, AnekdotenFind albums by this artist and others) one might hope that now they can inspire a whole new generation to follow, creating more of this wonderful music. This is a delightful and most warmly recommended album, which will stay with the listener forever.

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

TRETTIOÅRIGA KRIGET ~ TRETTIOÅRIGA KRIGET (EXPANDED EDITION) MELLOTRONEN 016 (Barcode: 7320470067079) ~ SWEDEN ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2004 1st album by the legendary Swedish Prog band Trettioåriga KrigetFind albums by this artist (The Thirty Years War), formed in 1970 by core members Stefan FredinFind albums by this artist (bass) and Dag LundquistFind albums by this artist (drums). After recording a demo album in the winter of 1970-71 (released only 34 years later as Glorious WarFind albums with this title), the band went through some personnel changes and by the time this eponymous album was recorded the “classic” lineup of the group was formed with Christer ÅkerbergFind albums by this artist on lead guitar and Austrian born Robert ZimaFind albums by this artist on lead vocals and guitar. Fredin was the main composer in the group, which played a unique blend of dark, hard-edged Prog, with great melodies and complex rhythm changes. The guitar work of Åkerberg is truly amazing and his great feel for blues, jazz and rock and his improvisational abilities are outstanding. The album is one of the formative Scandinavian Prog releases and a classic of the genre. It lost nothing of its power and originality over the years and is wholeheartedly recommended to all Prog fans, especially to those who adore the Swedish school to be later developed by groups like AnglagardFind albums by this artist, AnekdotenFind albums by this artist and Isildurs BaneFind albums by this artist.

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend