KINETIC

I remember buying the debut from these Swedes after reading some very positive reviews on different progsites. I was intrigued by the fact that they had no guitarist in their line-up and that almost all the reviewers mentioned quite different bands they were supposed to sound like: Anglagard, late King crimson, Rush, Police, Gentle Giant, Elp, Mars Volta, Uk, Landberk and Anekdoten. When I listened to it I found it good and absolutely unique but a bit samey and impenetrable at first. But there was something about it that made me come back to it. After some more listens it finally clicked with me and I now consider it one of the best records of 2003.

The sound of the band is indeed hard to describe. The swirling synthesizers often play contrapuntal lines with the sound of marimbas which gives the music a floating, hypnotic and very dense impression. The rhythm section, which is one of the strongest I´ve ever heard, play steady, heavy and sometimes quite jazzy rhythms. And it´s all topped off with the very good voice of singer Bruno Edling, who also surprises with some great and very memorable vocal lines over the complicated rhythms. Sometimes the music is very heavy and dissonant almost bordering on progmetal, sometimes it´s very mellow and melodic. Sometimes it´s extremely complex but they never lose sight of what constitutes a good song, dense arrangements or not. The second album Kinetic finds them adding an additional keyboardist and new textures and sounds to their already unique music. What´s more is that this time the results are even more extraordinary.

1. Morning Star (10/10)

A short, very quiet and melancholy intro with some great melodies and some odd twists and turns. A very dynamic little song with a sublime final section, which soon gives way to.

2. Kinetic (10/10)

.the ridiculously fast and heavy titletrack. This is one track which makes it impossible for me to sit still. The energy level is extraordinary and is topped off by some eye- poppingly fast and off-kilter virtuosity courtesy of the fantastic rhythm section. Great melodies as well. After the intensity level reaches boilingpoint, the song calms down for a heavy and very majestic final section.

3. Torrential Rains (10/10)

A very appropriate song title as this track with its heavy use of marimbas really conveys the sound of a storm in effect. The music in the first two verses are heavy, strange and brooding and gives way to a fast and very melodic chorus that will stay in your mind for days afterwards. Once again the rhythm section shines like a lighthouse, especially drummer Johan Hedman. Not to take anything away from the rest of this great song but the midsection is absolutely blinding.

4. Night Lights (8/10)

A nice little intermission that almost feels like its too short. A very good and atmospheric piece of music nonetheless.

5. Sky Burial (10/10)

After the energy of the first half of the album the band drops it all down quite a few notches for the slow, sluggish and spacey Sky Burial which carries some of the best melodies I´ve heard in quite some time. The hypnotic trance of the keyboards is spellbinding. The icing on the cake are the very touching lyrics and a dreamy and melodic mid section. Pure genius.

6. Subzero (10/10)

After the brilliance of the first five tracks you´d be forgiven for thinking that this level of songwriting can´t last. Not so as the band launches into Subzero, the most melodic track on the album. I´ve read in an other review that this would be a hit if it was released as a single in the seventies. I couldn´t agree more. Great chorus and an insanely fantastic midsection where the keyboardists duel it out.

7. Quiet Stalker

An ominous intro gives way to the very strange chords underlying the quite hard-to- grasp vocal lines that open the albums 18-minute centrepiece Quiet Stalker. It´s one whale of a song which covers every mood and every aspect imaginable of prog or art rock or whatever. Initially it is a daunting and not so easy task to figure out the piece because of the ingenuity and the complexity of the writing, but when you do the rewards are staggering. The highlight is the long instrumental mid section which is too great for words. I´ve always found it hard to find a long track that is as good as Close to the Edge, Gates of Delirium or Supper´s Ready. This time I´ve finally found one. True Genius and one of the greatest pieces of music I´ve ever heard!

8. Homesick (7/10)

A floating and peaceful outro that puts the final stamp on the blinding quality that oozes out of this monumental work as a whole.

Because of the bands uniqueness in sound some things on the album might take a while to sink in. But I plead to anyone reading this to give this great band a thorough listen. Whether or not you prefer 70´s prog, prog metal or art rock. I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

In a perfect world this would sell by the bucketload because to me this is nothing short of a future classic. Needless to say this is one highly recommended piece of music.