NIGHT BLOOMS

Opium Cartel is one of Jacob Holm-Lupo's projects. It is also a multinational project with Jacob from White Willow, Mattias Olsson from Anglagard, Rachel Haden from Todd Rundgren) & Tim Bowness from No-Man + some other musicians (mainly White Willow). A super group, bands like this was called back in the 1970s. This album was also pieced together with studio recordings from the members and I doubt if the band has ever been in the same room together. The joys of the internet !

This is by no means criticism or have any negative associations. It is great that so diverse musicians can meet up in cyberspace and make an album like this. An album that by no means sounds like 2010 and the internet age. Opium Cartel takes us back to the 1970s and add a lot of 2010 to the process too. Rachel Haden's vocals is superb. The same goes for the rest of the musicians here.

The music have much of the same DNA as Jacob served up on White Willow's new album Terminal Twilight. All fans of this band should purchase Night Blooms. There is a major, but some would say, a minor difference though. Where White Willow goes big on the sound, The Opium Cartel uses a much smaller sound. Minimalism is the key here. There is also a lot of electronica involved here. That and a lot of folk music. Acoustic guitars with Rachel's voice on the top. For example on the best track here; The Last Rose of Summer. In short; less is more is the motto on this album.

Besides of The Last Rose of Summer, the other tracks are a bit anonymous to me. And that even after the obligatory ten listening sessions. Hence, I would not label this as a great album. But the sound is great and the band is onto something here. It pleases me to hear that album # 2 is in the works. But this album does not quite make it.

3.5 stars