TIMELOSS

Timeloss is a beautiful example of Swedish modern rock. Gentle and modest on the outside, burning with powerful melancholy inside. At the time of their debut, Paatos still consisted of 2 member from Landberk and consequently the Landberk (and Anekdoten) feel is very strong throughout this album.

Sensor is a good rocking opener with a strong vocal of Petronella. The chorus is the only moment on the album where she challenges the fringes of her voice. It comes off rather Björk-like but it works well in the song.

As soon as Hypnotique sets in, Paatos prove they're not a one-trick band. It's a smoky jazz number reminiscent of the better moments of the band Elysian Fields, but stretched out to epic lengths with lots of mellotron and flutes. Great tune. The sad vibe set with this song is maintained through Téa. An beautiful gloomy ballad.

They Are Beautiful has strong jazz leanings again. It starts out very gently and unfortunately stays like that through its entire course. After the downcast mood created by Téa the album needed a more powerful and intense piece of music, something to smack us awake and get our focus back. But that doesn't happen. Even the great hypnotizing guitar work of Stefan Dimle (about 2 minutes into the song) can't save the day. It's a fine song by itself but it reduces the strength of this album and creates an album dip of sorts.

Quits does what They Are Beautiful should have done. It's an impressive jagged piece of Portishead on drum & bass stimulant that evolves into a psychotic sax cocktail.

However, it can't put aside the impression left by the penultimate track. This album could have been a real masterpiece had they just worked a tiny bit harder on the song material. If they had one more track like the opener and inserted it after Téa this could have been a 5 star for me. Now I just want a cup of tea and head off for a nap.