SURREAL

With Surreal Erik Norlander has clearly tried to make an album in the same style as 2010's The Galactic Collective. The main difference is that while The Galactic Collective was an album of re-recorded instrumentals from throughout Norlander's career (including some compositions he first developed with Rocket Scientists and Lana Lane), Surreal is an album of original material. Another notable difference between the two is that Surreal includes one vocal track (featuring Lane Lane on lead vocals) while The Galactic Collective was completely instrumental.

Though I find Surreal thoroughly enjoyable I do also think that it offers few surprises and feels a little bit like a more-of-the-same release in light of Norlander's past output. If, like me, you admire Norlander's great playing skills and amazing sounds then you will most probably enjoy this one as well, but in my opinion it does not quite reach the quality of his best efforts. In particular, Surreal is not as good as The Galactic Collective and my recommendation is therefore to start with that album and also the live companion, the stunning Live In Gettysburg DVD.

What I hope will follow now is another live release similar to the otherworldly Live In Gettysburg but including material from the present album as well as instrumental performances of further Lana Lane and Rocket Scientists tracks.

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