TARDIGRADE

Highlights? They exist only because there are also low points, and everything that lies in between, of course. "Tardigrade" from 2008, the third album by the Swedish prog band Simon Says, dangerously approaches the upper echelons. Those who love Genesis-like music with an IQ-tinted sound will likely agree. A detailed listening reveals a lot of refinement between the bombastic keyboards and the subtle play on the acoustic guitar. Are you ready to join the hunt for treasure?

Simon Says has a great vocalist in Daniel Feldt. With his virtually accent-free pronunciation, he navigates through the lush compositions of the album. His expressive singing style gives a distinctive character to the band's sound, and it's reassuring that he never overextends himself. However, it's the instrumental passages that stand out the most. In any case, it's the musical elements that make "Tardigrade" what it is. The band makes its statement in a whopping 74 minutes, and it's completely captivating. That's the strength of this album; everything is compelling to the core. Full- bodied organ chords, stately Mellotron sounds, sultry Moog riffs, sharp electric guitar bursts, atmospheric acoustic guitar picking, booming bass work, decisive drums, and creative tinkering with a vocoder make up the ingredients of this sonic dish.

All compositions are spawned from the mind of bassist Stefan Renstrom, noting that he shares credits with guitarist Jonas Hellberg on a few tracks. The lyrics are written by Feldt himself, enhancing the overall intensity. It's easier to empathize with your own writings than with someone else's. Whatever the case may be, "Tardigrade" showcases a rich range of creativity. The album features three epic tracks of 14, 10, and almost 27 minutes, respectively. Holy moly. As compensation, there are also a few short interludes on the album. Particularly beautiful in that regard is the 2:32- minute Moon Mountain, where electric and acoustic guitars embrace each other.

Let's start at the beginning, as "Tardigrade" prompts us to do so. If you were to make a list of the most convincing opening tracks in the prog genre, the nearly fifteen-minute Suddenly The Rain deserves a high ranking. Just consider the strong intro where the bombastic organ chords are fuller than fat. This complex chunk of retro-prog is blessed with a fantastic vocal line in the choruses. We are eagerly taken into a lush, almost instrumental interlude where acoustic guitar and later piano pave the way for a kilogram-heavy pot of prog extravagance. This adventure concludes with a guitar solo, followed by a repetition of the chorus that blows the track away.

Despite Simon Says exuding a serious degree of originality, it's the resemblance to IQ that just keeps the band from brilliance. The short title track demonstrates that, although the nitpicking comes from abundance.

The subsequent The Chosen One starts moodily with acoustic guitar, Mellotron, and vocals with backing vocals. Midway through, the mood shifts towards a happy, peppy vibe, complete with vocoder. Another unmissable track is As The River Runs, a composition that starts dark and eventually builds into euphoria?a beautiful piece of songcraft.

The amusingly titled Strawberry Jam is nothing more or less than a showcase for Renstrom's enormous talents as a bassist. It sounds challenging and daring. It's gratifying that the track reaffirms Renstrom's status as an exceptional musician. The voluptuous Brother Were 'You Bound? showcasing Simon Says at their best for almost half an hour sounds like a logical consequence. Describing it would be futile. Some things you shouldn't try to analyze. There's so much beauty that defies expression in words; it's better left to the imagination.

It's truly regrettable that there has never been a successor to "Tardigrade." Let's cherish it, as we are accustomed to doing.

Orginally posted on www.progenrock.com