PINUP GURU

Tomas BODIN gets instant recognition for his talented keyboard adventures with the legendary prog-rock masters from Sweden The FLOWER KINGS. There is much more to his talents than working with that group. On his second solo excursion "Pinup Guru" (taken from a GENESIS song), he likens the tracks on this album to where he lives. BODIN said that so many different languages are spoken it is overwhelming. If you walk down the street, you can hear all kinds of music coming out of people's windows... African, Middle-Eastern, just about anything imaginable. So think about walking down a street and every building you pass by has a different culture and music emanating from it. Akin to an experience like that, every track is different on this recording. Although he gets help from his band mates this is nothing like the music he plays with them, so do not expect to hear any of that. Some of this music is quirky and weird, and then a lot of it is very good, too. When playing in a prog-rock trio comparable to EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER that is what you would expect. BODIN readily cites groups like that as a major influence in the way each song was structured. The Hammond organ is the featured instrument, and this is so because of its flexibility and great sound. It has been a favorite of many great keyboard players. The Hammond time tested piece of equipment. Over the last several decades, it has appeared on many well-known albums.

So get yourself ready for several listens of this CD, and prepare for an extreme and multihued musical journey that will require a lot of reflection and afterthought, then subsequent listens. If this kind of thoughtful listening experience is not your cup of tea then I suggest you steer away from this CD and start reaching for more simplistic music. Personally, the more complex and intense the music is the more awestruck and absorbed I become, it is equivalent to a spiritual experience for me.

This must be very satisfying for BODIN. He already has a tremendously successful career with one of the greatest bands in the world. To be able to keep up with that then release an outstanding solo album as well is something to be very proud of. Once you hear this album, I do not think you will disagree that it is an above average effort by an extremely talented musician. This CD is a prog-rock odyssey that will unquestionably capture your imagination and confront your senses.

Rating: 4.5/5