SONGS FROM THE RAVEN'S NEST

I wonder who Reegonetti actually is. Neither of the musicians from the Swedish Reegonetti Band goes by that name. The men are Ronald Vikström and Börje Reinholdsson. I could have asked the gentlemen themselves, but why would I want to be a know-it-all? There is absolutely no explanation for the band name to be found anywhere on the internet. Oh well, isn't it much more fun to keep the mystery of 'who is Reegonetti' alive? Moreover, the powerful music of "Songs From The Raven's Nest" often contains a mysterious passage. There is, of course, a lot more to say about the music.

"Songs From The Raven's Nest" is mightily interesting. As mentioned, the band consists of only two musicians, keyboardist Vikström and drummer/singer Reinholdsson. Don't expect the music to sound thin, nor is it obesity rock. Vikström and Reinholdsson are virtuosos who have composed and presented their music with taste. The layering is immense; you really don't miss out on anything. There are cool bass parts, strong harmonies, pleasant melodies, and lots of delightful solos. Vikström also manages to create some guitar-like parts with his keyboards, which scores points. It helps a lot that the recording quality is sublime.

In terms of style, you hear dark modern prog with the complexity of Spock's Beard and the catchy choruses of, say, Asia. There is much inspiration drawn from the keyboard play of Eddie Jobson and Keith Emerson, while the drumming echoes intriguing parts à la Neil Peart. If you imagine brawny, majestic vocals on top, you have some idea of what "Songs From The Raven's Nest" has to offer.

The central theme of the album is the darkness around us. This comes through in seven tracks with atmospheric lyrics about dark subjects such as selfishness, death, fear, and loneliness. Pleasant, it's off to a strong start. For instance, the opener A Place Of Dread is about the unexplained events at Skinwalker Ranch. This farm in Utah (USA) was notorious in the 90s for its paranormal activities. There were poltergeists, UFOs, cattle mutilations, werewolves, and more Stephen King-like suspense. A Place Of Dread is the shortest track on the album, a composition of less than five minutes with a catchy keyboard theme that has the feel of an old horror movie soundtrack.

The music's dynamic differences are well showcased in Star In The Sky, where a brisk, driven rhythm sets the tone. The interlude of a solemn passage with lots of piano underscores the prog element of the offering. When later in the track, delightful organ chords and excellent synth solos fill the space, you know you're in the right place. Ghost In The Crowd has a completely different atmosphere. An infectious bass theme that plays almost continuously defines this captivating track. It's about how we deal with time, about routine, about the future. Secretive and clear voice fragments are heard, as well as Kansas-like multi-voice singing and ticking clocks. Top-notch track.

The lyrics of Black Heart touch me personally, as I have spent many nights in the hospital, complete with nightmares, cold, fear, and beeping machines. Naturally, their writing is again wrapped in a composition with typical Reegonetti allure. It doesn't take much to fall head over heels for the music of the duo. Just listen to the choruses of The Dark and instantly declare yourself a fan.

In the penultimate track, Liar's Ball, the duo combines their progressive rock with AOR, which quite resembles the music of Rocket Scientists. It has a similar depth. The band then concludes with an epic of nearly fifteen minutes. The track is called Chicxulub, a title that begs for an explanation. In the Mayan language, chicxulub means tail of the devil. The lush track is about a comet the size of Mount Everest that crashed in Mexico in ancient times. After a vague intro, we subsequently hear beautiful progressive rock, cosmic sounds, and a solemn finale that I wouldn't have minded lasting a bit longer.

Finally, the band was founded back in 1981 but disappeared from the scene due to lack of recognition. In 2021, they made a comeback with the debut album "Exploring The Unknown" and now in 2024, there's the follow-up "Songs From The Raven's Nest". The advice is simple: give them the recognition they deserve!

Orginally posted on www.progenrock.com