Himlabacken Volume II - Moon Safari
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=132187
Printed Date: November 26 2024 at 08:17
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Topic: Himlabacken Volume II - Moon Safari
Posted By: Frets N Worries
Subject: Himlabacken Volume II - Moon Safari
Date Posted: December 08 2023 at 09:01
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Today marks the release of the new Moon Safari album, I haven't heard it yet, as I'm listening to the new Chronicles of Father Robin allbum (SO GOOD!!) but please, I'm curious to hear your thoughts 1. 198X (Heaven Hill) (3:55) - Petter Sandström / lead & backing vocals, acoustic guitar 
------------- The Wheel of Time Turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the shadow. Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time... |
Replies:
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: December 08 2023 at 09:13
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I think Blomljud is one of the best modern prog albums. I was so hopeful for this one. They have gone for an 80's hard rock with a little prog thrown in and thankfully their signature harmonies. I lost interest after about 4 songs to be honest. Pretty disappointed. Just my opinion. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: December 08 2023 at 13:14
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I’ll certainly give it a listen when I get the chance. Love Blomljud…. ------------- Heaven is waiting but waiting is Hell |
Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: December 08 2023 at 15:20
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Negoba, might be worth listening further - 'Teenage Angel Meets the Apocalypse' is classic Moon Safari. I agree that this sounds the most 80s out of what they've done so far, and I don't think it'll convince anyone who doesn't already like them, but for fans like me who have been starved for new material for the last ten years, it is very welcome. I'm just one listen in but it sounds at least as good as Himlabacken 1 so far. I will say that Blomljud/Lovers End still remain untopped.
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Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: December 08 2023 at 23:03
| I'm not as keen on Blomljud. Too bloated and not interesting enough for me. This one I enjoy moreso, but not quite as much as part 1 or Lover's End. |
Posted By: Frets N Worries
Date Posted: December 09 2023 at 15:39
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Listening now, so far i think it's better than Blomljud, for me at least, Blomljud was a bit too long. Still great, but a bit too long. Every song on here is fantastic, (and I'm not even at the epic yet!) ------------- The Wheel of Time Turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the shadow. Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time... |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: December 10 2023 at 01:11
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IMHO the best way to listen to this record is when you get rid of all your preconceptions about how a Moon Safari record should sound like. I'm listening to the 20 minute track right now as I'm typing this post (I'm at 8:00 timestamp) and I'm enjoying it. I can best describe it as prog metal for those who don't like prog metal. Compositionally it's at the highest level. A 10/10. But I feel every time the listener's reminded that the band is still Moon Safari, something feels off. The signature MS tropes just don't go well with the prog metal-lite style. It's almost as if the band wanted to completely rinse off their recognizable sound after the departure of Tobias Lundgren, but midway through the songwriting process, they felt the need to still somehow lure their hardcore fans so they threw in their classic soft acoustic syrupy vocal harmony parts here and there, and even though those soft parts mostly fit the arrangements.... sometimes they sound forced as hell. Perhaps the next MS record will be even more heavy sounding, less Moon Safari esque but way more organic and honest. Time will tell. ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: December 10 2023 at 13:18
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I'll give it another go. Blomljud is too long but what's good on there is so good. As I said in my review, the fact that they just lean into the super sweet and own it just works for me. And I usually get drawn to weird, darker music. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: December 10 2023 at 16:15
The pre-released songs disappointed me. Upon twice listening to the entire album, my opinion flipped. I'm a fan.
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Negoba wrote:Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: December 10 2023 at 20:07
| I don't understand the comparison to prog metal at all, would maybe put it in the Neal Morse, Flower Kings, Transatlantic camp. The opening track sounds a bit like Van Halen and that's it. The long track Teenage Angel Meets The Apocalypse is the best epic of the year that I've heard so far. The vocal harmonies rival the Beach Boys at times. Admittedly it is all very 'syrupy' and unrelentingly upbeat for sure but the last 3 tracks bring home the bacon for me (Epilog is stunning!). Needs more listens! |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: December 11 2023 at 05:08
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^ It contains metal riffs and a very modern metal guitar tone. Really cool! But I agree that it is not a metal release. Prog Art AOR/Metal will be my designation. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to: 
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Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: December 11 2023 at 05:41
| The first three tracks and scattered throughout feel like an homage to early 80s arena rock. The keyboards on the first track did make me think of Van Halen's Jump and outside of Journey, I can'tthink many other bands sing "stone in love." The harmonies feel more heavy handed and overdone than usual but that's just an initial impression. It's been a while since I listened to the earlier albums. |
Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: December 11 2023 at 10:00
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I’ve listened once and certainly will again! Agreed on the Van Halen-type sound at the very beginning of track one, but prog metal?!! Er……. Sounds very good to me 😎 ------------- Heaven is waiting but waiting is Hell |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: December 11 2023 at 10:29
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Actually, I've realized the post-Lundgren era Moon Safari sound kinda reminds me of the early albums by Magic Pie (Norway), except not as coherent arrangement-wise. ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: December 11 2023 at 13:06
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The Epic is indeed very very good. Thanks for those who advised giving it another listen. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: December 14 2023 at 07:41
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I think it's their best album and my second favorite LP of 2023... ------------- The Prog Corner |
Posted By: Dapper~Blueberries
Date Posted: February 22 2024 at 11:24
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This album was kind of a disappointment for me. Did not really feel like Moon Safari, bit too AORy. The epic is good though but I feel like they reached their peak with Blomljud and Lover's End and wish they kind of just evolved further with that sound they were going with. ------------- D~B |
Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: February 22 2024 at 12:18
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Moon Safari was a cog in the sonic juggernaut that made 2023 a banner year for prog. My favorite prog year of this century.
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Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: June 01 2024 at 03:28
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I'm listening to Teen Angel Meets the Apocalypse again, and when I convinced myself that the song is by Magic Pie, not Moon Safari, I'm enjoying it way more. ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 12:55
No offence mate, but isn’t that just a bit silly?🤔 ------------- Heaven is waiting but waiting is Hell |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 15:54
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If it's silly and yet it works, it's not silly. :P I mean, to be fair, before Himlabacken II came out, I had my preconceptions about the Moon Safari sound, and I expected another Blomljud. And when the album premiered, it was anything but another Blomljud. ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |