DREAM DANCE

This small CD contains songs which are also presented on other Landberk albums, though they are from a different recording session. However the new versions are not in my opinion drastically better, I would not recommend this for the people owning the major albums with these songs, unless you are a serious fan of the band. I admit though that this record is quite charming, with hidden pictures of 1950's Swedish bus and a Saab car inside the record sleeve. "Dream Dance" and "All Around Me" are really nice compositions, but for example the latter one which I really adore, fits in my opinion better to the context of musical flow on the "Indian Summer" album. The version of "Waltz of The Dark Riddle" from their first release is more interesting, as it is performed as a string arrangement, and there are quite nice harmonies found with acoustic instruments instead of amplified gears supporting the Mellotron. When thinking that they recorded their first album for both Swedish and English languages, and there are similar new versions of their songs on their other EP's, I guess they were quite keen of searching new angles or more perfectionist versions of their compositions in small detail resolution. The superb studio recording skills will later be evident on their last record and forthcoming albums of Paatos.

In my opinion, LANDBERK emerged as one of the most groundbreaking and evocative bands by taking over the renewed Scandinavian progressive scene that led many of the forthcoming acts in Europe to define a sound of their own. Even after disbanding in 1996, the musical legacy prevailed and LANDBERK became this sort of 'cult band' in the years to come and although when it's been in a very intermittent way, some of the original line-up members continued to share their genius in other projects such as Stefan DIMLE in PAATOS and most recently, Reine FISKE with ELEPHANT9.

Having said that, I consider the band's second EP is concise and intense even when at first listen it may show completely the opposite. 'Dream Dance' contains the alternative versions of three songs from two different albums. On the one hand, we have 'Waltz Of The Dark Riddle' taken from the English version of 'Riktigt Äkta' where in Swedish it's called 'I Nattens Timma' and on the other hand, we have 'Dreamdance' and 'All Around Me' from 'Indian Summer'.

Both 'Dreamdance' and 'All Around Me' were marvelously rearranged, if not entirely, essentially altogether. The final versions of these songs considered in the depths of 'Indian Summer', are more digestible and ongoing when the outtakes merged over this EP are strangely different. And by 'strangely different' I mean darker and plagued of this kind of eeriness. For instance, the intro for 'Dreamdance' is soothed with these female-like distorted chants and it totally reformats the original version we all are acquainted with, providing a new perspective from within. In 'All Around Me', we can listen the smooth sound of keyboards right at the beginning of the original version and in here, the songs goes right down to it as the sound of the mellotron breaks through.

And finally, I left the best part for the end of this review. For starters, what makes 'Waltz Of The Dark Riddle' EP version so heavenly great is the fact it's completely instrumental. Instrumental and gloomy. A genuine waltz by all means. It flows exquisitely paused and relieving. A set of violins have been intertwined as the sparkling novelty in this version, giving the song just the right amount of sensitivity and obscure passion that LANDBERK is used to fully deliver in every recording.

Highly recommended to enjoy the previous and oncoming work of LANDBERK from a different perspective.