UR TROLLKARLENS HATT [AKA: MAGICIAN'S HAT]

Bo Hansson's follow-up to his very successful "Lord Of The Rings" album is a more dynamic affair with more variety but the magic is gone. I blame the Hobbits but I have no proof. This is very much a hit and miss affair for me. Bo has added a guitarist which was wise, and some guests help out on what for me is the best track by far "The Sun (Parallel Or 90)". And yes that's the song that Andy Tillison took his band's name (PARALLEL OR 90 DEGREES) from.

"Big City" is the 11 1/2 minute epic track to start things. It opens with a relaxed beat as sax joins in. It picks up with guitar as the tempo continues to shift. A calm with vocal melodies 3 minutes in then this light soundscape takes over. It gets better 5 1/2 minutes in as percussion and sax lead.The guitar takes the lead before 10 minutes. Some prominant bass too. "Elidor" is mostly flute and drum led. "Before The Rain" is led by flute again but we get some sax standing out too. Flute takes over early on "Fylke" as well. "Playing Downhill Into The Downs" is fuller sounding. These last four tracks are all under 2 minutes each.

"Findhorn's Song" is just over a minute but the best of the previous short tracks with the organ floating in the background. Great sound. "Awakening" is pastoral but it sounds much better everytime it picks up. "Wandering Song" has a beat with organ and guitar. "The Sun (Parallel Or 90)" has this amazing rhythm with keyboards that's so simple but I just don't want it to end. It's my favourite track by far. "Excursion With Complications" is led by sax, keyboards and drums. Not a fan of this at all. "Divided Reality" has organ,drums and flute coming and going after the strummed guitar intro.

A good album but I miss the mood and atmosphere of the debut.