BLOMLJUD

I remember the first time I heard this album ...the acapella of "Constant Bloom" bursting through my headphones ... I knew within seconds that this was something very special. The 86 seconds passing so quickly I could not completely absorb the experience before the beautiful explosion of sound that is the introduction to "Methuselah's Children" came in to herald a whole new, altogether longer musical sensation. This is a song that sets the whole tone for the album - a celebration of all that is great and joyous about the world we live in, almost biblical and reverential in its fervour for life, it is the song that literally lays out in blueprint the Moon Safari approach to music. After almost 16 minutes "Methuselah's Children" ends with an epic climax courtesy of Pontus Åkesson's glorious guitar work and we enter track 3, the escapist anthem " In The Countryside". The band ask you to follow them to the countryside and with music like this, most of us will surely follow! Track 4 is the instrumental "Moonwalk" which has become both a live staple and the band's unofficial theme tune. It continues and expands the uplifting feel over virtually 9 minutes of undulating musical hinterland. "Bluebells" showcases more superb vocal harmonies, which sound particularly impressive through the headphones and which will have you "dancing on the feet of a miracle while winter's growing cold". Disc 1 concludes with the stunning "The Ghost Of Flowers Past", which starts with some quietly beautiful piano from Simon Åkesson but ends in a manner that will send shivers down your spine: "I will meet you again on the shores where lovers run". "Yasgur's Farm" is the band's perspective on Woodstock, yet also manages to reference elements of both Yes and the vocal arrangements of Gene Puerling. Although the influences on Moon Safari are often clear, the diversity and mix of those influences, when added to the unique MS approach, lead to a sound which is distinctively their own whilst also feeling familiar. Two short tracks in "Lady Of The Woodlands" and " A Tale Of Three And Tree" are a pleasant diversion before the 31 minutes plus epic that is "Other Half Of The Sky". This is a track that naturally requires repeated playing before it can be absorbed fully but it is worth the effort. The track does fly past once you are familiar with it. There are so many great moments. The line "did you fill them pages with a meaning to it all, or did summer turn to fall?" is sung in such a way that you want to punch the air with joy - that is the effect Moon Safari have on you - unrestrained joy. Another classic moment is the final note sung in the song: "I am tired of the past, but it feels like this will last..." There's still time for the gentle "To Sail Beyond The Sunset" and, if you have the Japanese edition, the tribute to Gene Puerling, "A Song For Gene". One of my favourite albums of all time. One of my favourite bands of all time.