BANKS OF EDEN

My goodness, what is this I hear? Brilliance, flowing like an ember currant thorugh my ears. Electricity in the brain cells, as one Sir Douglas would have told you. I am speechless. Truly, I am. I have always been an avid fan of yesteryear(ish) prog and have not really embraced the geniuses of today. But maybe I do. Now, I mean.

The Flower Kings may be contemporary but they've been around longer than many others. Tracing some of it's origins back to Kaipa and the early 70's, it is not such a small feat creating music today way beyond anything Kaipa managed back then. Maybe I like Flower Kings due to the fact that they are history come alive, embracing the classic 70's period and expanding it's borders. I guess so. The music manages to stay not just retro but also present, which is quite something.

The opener, "Numbers", is possibly the greatest track written for the past twenty years or so. It is outstanding. Comprising several themes, many of them recurring in the remaining tracks, in the most flawless amd seamless way is brilliant. I am loss for words here. There is every emotion in this song, beautiful lyrics and enthralling magic pieced together into one, long track that seems to go on for just a few minutes. That is true genius. Making long tracks seem short is all the proof I need to be convinced about a songs divinity. It never let's up and keeps me engulfed in it's warm embrace.

The second best track, "Rising the imperial", is a striking builder. From the gentle, humble beginnings it rises to the sky by way of an amazing guitar solo by Stolt. Yet again everything seems to be made in a mould constructed by divine forces. How is it possible to write music like this? Complex yet very melodic, engaging and easy to love. That is a feat worthy the twelve of Hercules. Indeed. I tell you.

The three tracks in the middle are great but do not reach the heights of the former two. They linger in their shadow. Very good indeed but I sometimes feel they are only the gateway to the Prize, "Numbers" and "Rising the imperial". If it had been just those two song the album would have gained an easy five staf rating. As it stands I rate it four. It is brilliant pieces of music.