ONE MAN TELL'S ANOTHER

4.5 stars. LANDBERK are one of my favourite Swedish bands along with ANEKDOTEN, ANGLAGARD and SINKADUS. I would say LANDBERK are the less dynamic of the four yet like the others they have that melancholic mood and lots of mellotron. All I know is that I love their sound and that this band is incredibly talented.This is their second studio album and I owe a huge debt to tszirmay who sent me both this album and their final one "Indian Summer" both of which have been out of print for years. I was familiar with a couple of tracks on here which I have on the EP they released the same year, although the EP was sung in Swedish while this is in English. In comparing this album to the previous one "Lonely Land" i'd say the first one was more progressive with the attention more on the vintage keyboards, while this one puts the focus more on Fiske's guitar and the vocals. Still like the debut there is mellotron on every track.

"Time" is a top three and a song I have from their EP. The guitar leads sound bright and unique. It settles to that Swedish melancholia as vocals come in. No words can express how moving this track is for me. Themes are repeated. Nice organ before 2 1/2 minutes floating in the background. "Kontiki" is another song I had heard, this one from the Progfest 95 live album I own. A slow and heavy beat as guitar comes in then vocals. This is all so melancholic. A calm after 2 1/2 minutes. Guitar and mellotron after 4 1/2 minutes as it builds. It kicks back in around 6 minutes. "Mirror Man" is mellow with piano as reserved vocals come in. It's brighter after 2 minutes. I like it ! Mellotron 3 minutes in when the vocals return. Back to that brighter sound with guitar.

"You Are" is the other track from that EP and a top three for me. Intricate and melancholic guitar to open as vocals join in. It picks up 1 1/2 minutes in with bass and drums leading. Love this song. So emotional after 5 minutes as they let loose somewhat. The guitar and mellotron are great. "Remembrance" sounds so good to start. Vocal melodies and mellotron follow then vocals and that opening sound returns. Check out the passionate vocals and mellotron after 4 1/2 minutes. Then it settles back. "Valentinsong" features sparse piano and barely audible vocals. It stays very pastoral. Mellotron before 6 minutes. It kicks in louder 8 1/2 minutes in with the drums, guitar and mellotron standing out. Nice. "Tell" is my other top three. Guitar builds then drums and these fat bass lines from Dimle follow. Incredible sound ! Check out the guitar 3 1/2 minutes in. Vocals follow. The bass is killer 6 minutes in. Amazing sounding mellotron late.

An incredible album that rivals their Swedish sung debut.