PARADOX HOTEL

My experience with The Flower Kings' "Paradox Hotel" was a little strange one. I neede three listenings to get it. Usually I think I can rate a record after one listening. First I thought the record was too long and then I found some gems and now think almost everything is awesome. This is The Flower Kings' ninth studio record and it was made in 2006, now seven years ago and the ensemble made up by Roine Stolt (guitars, vocals, percussion), Tomas Bodin (keyboards, effects), Jonas Reingold (bass), Marcus Liliequist(drums, percussion), Hasse Fröberg (guitars, vocals) and Hasse Bruniusson (marimba, gong, percussion).

This is a double cd which counts over two hours modern symphonic music and the cover shows the band checking in to Paradox Hotel. What I like most with this record is the variation. No tracks sounds like another and here we hear inspiration from the Gods Genesis and Yes and of course there is pure Flower Kings material too. "Monsters and men" is a very long and amazing track with wonderful sweaping melodies and powerful themes and also very nice high vocal harmonies. "Lucy had a dream" has a poetic text and a strange power in its blend of soft and symphonic. "Bavarian skies" is different but interesting about a jew in Nazi Germany and "End on a high note" is another symphonic "epic" and "Minor Giant Steps" is even better in that way. "Touch my heaven" also hits a very high standard like instrumental "The Unorthodox Dancinglesson" which is very cool. The title track is hard rock and "Blue Planet" ends the record wonderfully. This is really a record that grows for every time you listen to it and it also is worth studying carefully beacause the lyrics seems to be a part of a long story, so it seems to be a concept album.

First I was very sceptical to this Paradox Hotel but something caught me from the beginning and wanted me to listen again and it was very good. Three listening changed this from a three star to a five star record. I am quite new with this band but I'm beginning to respect them now for this wonderful dreams. I haven't written about every track but almost everything is good. It's just "Check in" that's not interesting. I prefer quality before quantity but now I am bound to check out Flower Kings' other long record.