FLOWER POWER

The least I can say, is that to review the entire TFK discography is a time consuming task. Not only did they release many albums, but most of them are quite lenghty, some are double ones and some are both. Like "Flower Power". Almost two hours and a half ! So, here we go.

One of the lenghtiest song in the rock industry (about one hour) is the core of this album. There is a shorter version available on their semi-rare "Edition Limitée" which lasts for about eight minutes but was a pre-version of this track.

Several pieces of this "song" are appealing. Both "Dawn" and "Simple Song" are pure in the TFK tradition and features a brilliant Roine on the vocals. Some other numbers will be a bit more chaotic (but this is a TFK feature so be prepared). "Business Camp" is one like this : combining sweet moments but mixing them with complex instrumental parts. The next number "All You Can save" sounds very nice to me : full of emotional guitar break and, again 100% in line with previous TFK songs.

"Attack of The Monster Briefcase" is pure Genesis during the intro and is rather hard for most of it. Not too bad, though. "Mr Hope Goes To Wall Street" sounds as an ELP song (more a E song than an L or a P one if you see what I mean). The first poor track, but let's consider it as a transition track since it is very short. What a change with "Did I Tell You" full of lightness and emotions.

I really like this band a lot when they produce such beautiful music. Of course, it sounds as coming out of the greatest band from the seventies we all (?) love. And that's exactly why I love TFK. They remind me my youth and the bands I am listening for some thirty-five years now. Since most of them have stopped their career or do not produce interesting music these days, I just fill the gap with bands like TFK. And I have listended to thousands of prog (and non-prog) releases.

The title track sounds as a Broadway comedy. Not really my cup of tea. Another weak track follows : "Don't Let The d'Evil In" is a hard-rock number which is not really the type of music for TFK. Press next, you will do yourself a favour. I'm afraid that the weak songs follow one another at this point. "Love Is The Word" is difficult to bear. At this stage, I cannot consider this lenghty suite as one track any longer. Just a serie of short numbers put one after the other with a definite lack in unity.

The next piece is there to highlight this comment. But this time, TFK reverts to their roots : "There's No Such Night" is a superb melody with great vocals. Like to have a bit more of these. But alas, "The Mean Machine" is a dull instrumental that reminds me at time "On The Run" from DSOTM. It was not the best moment on this great album. Again, press next to avoid irritation.

The scary mood of "Dungeon Of The Deep" is a pure masquarade. Some religious choir sounds and females singing "Hallelujah". Pretty boring. But you know what you do (but at this moment I have already recommend four times to press next). "Indian Summer" is another dull song : piano bar oriented. You know, the type of music you could hear in a classy hotel while having dinner and that nobody put any attention to. But, by now the next button has no secret for you.

ELP are back again with "Sunny Lane". But this jazzy keyboards oriented song is not appealing at all, I'm afraid. It will only become a good one during its second half. But again, it could have been cut into two since there are absolutely no main theme in this lenghty piece. At least it would have made one good track more in this long list of average to poor pieces. "Gardens Revisited" is better than the title track. Great guitar work again. The listener had to wait for quite a long time to get another good song.

When one gets to the end of this collection of eighteen numbers; there's only one word that comes though my mind "Phew, it's over ! Even if "Shadowland" is also a good moment of TFK music.

Now, I would really like to know what's the use of releasing a song that lasts for only FOUR seconds (a very short drum "solo"). Maybe to appear in the Book Of Records ? But I have already heard one that short (but I do not remember on which album). They are probably looking forward to appear there in two entries : the shortest "song" ever written as well as being the band producing the longest albums in the rock history. In the track listing, it follows "Captain Capstan" which is completely useless as well. "Astral Dog" closes the first CD on a rather noisy mood. Gosh! I still have one CD to review to get it done.

But I'll get a break (and I mean it) for dinner and come back little later.

Dinner is over. I just hope I won't get an indigestion with the second CD.

Actually, the opener is a more TFK track, although the intrumental intro is not that great. But form the moment Roine starts singing, it'll pick up nicely; till the end. But the joy will be short. "Stupid Girl" is more hard-rock oriented than usual for TFK. They already produced such a track on CD one with "Don't Let The d'Evil In". This one is not any better. It ends up in a useless jam.

"Corruption" does not belong to the best of their repertoire but it is not the worse track of this album. Somewhat uninspired I guess. As "Dungeon Of The Deep" on CD one, "Power of Kindness" has a religious flavour. Mr. Roine should have been very mystical those days. What to say about "Psycodelic Postcard" ? That is it pure annoyance ? Inspiration is really elsewhere, but this is a global remark for this work so far. Some Yes sounds (finally, I should say) after five minutes.

"Hudson River Sirens Call 1998" is not worse than most of the other songs, but is there any contest for producing not the worst song here ? Aerial female vocals will bring some sweetness and spacey feeling. The religious mood prevails for the last thirty seconds. Horrible section.

By now, I really have a hard time. Fortunately, "Magic Pie" is a song which will bring me some beautiful feeling. Very melodic, smooth and harmonious vocals. My favourite track of the album. Why didn't they stick more to what they do best ? Just writing nice pieces of music. Like "Painter". Wow ! Two great tracks in a row !

"Calling At Home" is another long track featuring some good and some less interesting parts. Average Should I say. In-line with this album. "After Life" closes this endless record. This instrumental is again not the worse track of the list. A nice melody to forget all these useless tracks.

TFK would have been inspired to cut this "work" into two. As such it would have been a decent piece of music. I am rather disapointed with this album. It is the first one to which I will apply a low rating (not speaking about "Edition Limitée"). Some good moments but really not enough to justify a higher one than two stars.