TIMELOSS

The starting gun to a brand new millennium brought along the musical reawakening of several progressive rock sub-genres that were almost considered outdated or overshadowed by the renewed trends, among them, we find prog folk. Individually speaking, many decades had to go by right before we could listen once again to the purist sound of the legacy bands such as JETHRO TULL and STRAWBS left behind, tendency that unarguably placed them as the immediate pioneers that christened that side progressive rock tendency. Thus, by blending up the schemes from the old Prog Rock school with the innovations and paradigms proposed by many other Scandinavian artists such as ANEKDOTEN, LANDBERK and ÄGG, the band commanded by the NETTERMALMS took off spotlessly with their "Timeloss" album.

By following a mild and depurated line, the proposal of the Swedish band speaks for itself right from the kick off. "Sensor" is a melodic composition that slowly takes one step at the time, evoking this kind of peacefulness that eventually would blast off in this Crimsonian schizophrenia. The anachronism of the strident guitars all along the rapidly executed drums creates an atmosphere quite difficult to describe, motif that goes on for over five minutes leaving us with an unexpected ending that would leave your senses claiming for more. On the other hand, "Hypnotique", the second chapter revealed in here; brings back the stream to calm waters. By depicting the scene with bittersweet lyricism, the piece becomes more dark and provocative as it flows under your skin. The remarkable performance of David WILCZWSKI on flute is as captivating as eloquent, giving the song that withering touch that takes over the rest of the instruments, minimizing them, encapsulating them around the fluidity of the spiraling notes.

Now moving on to "Téa", which is under my own appreciation, the corner stone of the album. Paused, quite brief and transitional. Through this song, the only one in the whole production that's completely sung in Swedish and which was tenderly inspired by Petronella and Huxflux's daughter; we can widely perceive all of those schematic influences taken from the most representative Scandinavian bands by listening attentively to the unleashing power and devotedness condensed in few minutes. Several movements, assorted devouring passages, moody ups and downs, and most of all, the uniqueness that described the band as a newly born progressive proposal.

"They Are Beautiful" is a very profound and sensitive melody. It is a composition full of acoustic guitar sequences and a timid clarinet, solemnly intertwined with a marvelous display of the infallible Mellotrons and Hammonds in Swedish prog and the undeniable obscurity, it is from beginning to end, quite enjoyable.

At its turn, "Quits" fulfills the beholder's inextinguishable expectation that's set upon a respectable epical display at any time, if I may call it such. If there was any possible doubt set upon the underlined resemblance of Petronella's voice to BJÖRK's, here is where you can definitely clear the air once and for all. Yes. Petronella NETTERMALM herself claims to be a devoted fan of the controversial Icelandic singer, and this song is her perfect alibi to pay tribute to the girl with the high pitched voice. In its entireness, the song is very lineal, instrumental and erratic most of all, but quite cathartic. Specially the last three or four minutes. All in all, "Timeloss" deservedly lies under the terms of "exceptional" and "unique". It is transitional and fresh, determinant and proposing, beautiful and enigmatic. Extremely recommended.