BLOMLJUD

I purchased this double album and "A Doorway To Summer" (their debut) at the same time a few years ago. I reviewed the debut which I didn't like very much because of the high sugar content back in August of 2009. Well it's taken me this long to get up the nerve to review this one. What was holding me back besides not liking their style was knowing this was a double disc recording with over 100 minutes of syrup to wade through. I "get" that people really like this band and how positive and upbeat they are. It's all sunshine and harmonies.

"Constant Bloom" is a multi-vocal only intro piece. "Methuselah's Children" opens with keyboards, acoustic guitar and chirping birds. Synths join in then it kicks into gear around a minute. It does settle back and vocals arrive 3 minutes in.The tempo picks up before 12 minutes.The vocals are sappy a minute later. "In The Countryside" features acoustic guitar and light vocals with harmonies as a beat joins in. I can see the band skipping around a meadow in tights at this point. "Moonwalk" is a rare highlight for me. Spacey synths as drums build then some heavy organ joins in too. Guitar 1 1/2 minutes in then it calms down with piano. It does pick back up. "Bluebells" really says it all. Vocals and harmonies and a Country vibe. A pleasant and mellow tune. "The Ghost Of Flower's Past" has a full sound 1 1/2 minutes in followed by vocals before 2 minutes as it calms right down. A fairly sappy ballad really.

"Yasgur's Farm" starts off disc 2 and it starts well with the organ adding some depth. Piano then leads and vocals arrive 2 minutes in.This isn't nearly as good here. It does get better 5 minutes in with organ and guitar but then the lighter section with vocals returns. "Lady Of The Woodlands" has a Celtic flavour. "A Tale Of Three And Tree" is pastoral with fragile vocals.Yikes ! "Other Half of The Sky" is over 31 minutes of laid back music that does change as it weaves it's way through. "To Sail Beyond The Sunset' features some beautiful piano melodies.

Give me ANEKDOTEN, ANGLAGARD, LANDBERK and SINKADUS please !