FROM WITHIN

Oh boy . I cannot wait any longer writing my view about this album. It's a BIG FIVE STAR for this album by a Sweden band. It's an amazing prog music in the vein of early King Crimson, I guess. King Crimson ripped-off? I don't really care. These guys have done a great job! For those of you who miss the mellotron sound of 70's, this might be the answer! I don't think there is something special or complex, chord-wise as well as overall composition of the album. The only critical point is the ability of the band to create musical nuances throughout all tracks in the album by exploring mellotron sound, bass guitar, cello, drums and wurlitzer brilliantly! Top notch music!

The opening track "From Within" is an upbeat tempo music with drums, bass and mellotron dominating the scene. It ends up with a lower sound to accommodate the vocal part. The guitar play is stunning coupled with dominant "walking" bass play. It's a nice composition. You can hear here the "In The Court of Crimson King" style of mellotron sound in relatively long period. I'm satisfied with this act. The vocal part is heavy and very clear.

Now we enter to more uplifting and dynamic song "Kiss of Life" with again mellotron- based music, followed by a voice in "Radiohead" style of singing. Beautiful opening. The music is so simple with minimum chords changes but it does a pretty good sound especially when mellotron and guitar played altogether. Oh man .. this piece of music really touches me especially when I play it loud! What an experience! I cannot bear it anymore when mellotron howls loudly and dominantly in this segment.

The next track "Groundbound" is opened with a heavy voice (this time is not Radiohead- like) something as heavy as Peter Hammil in Van Der Graaf Generator. Hey, I just reckon now that the singer voice is somewhat similar to Hammil's!! Can u imagine? It's a kind like marrying VdGG and King Crimson?!!! What a nice dream! Wow! I like the guitar part played starting at minute 3:20. It definitely reminds me to "Starless and Bible Black" album of KC! I don't mind to repeat this track again to ensure my true orgasm about this album .

Track 4 "Hole" really killed me the first time I listened to it. What a nice yet simple music they provide for the hungry listener of this sort of music! IMHO, this track itself is enough to justify that this album should be in your collection. Especially the hard core fan of early KC, it's a satisfaction guaranteed deal!! Opened with a dazzling simple chord of mellotron (swear! The intro of this track is early Crimson stuff!!) plus other instruments as background, followed by an immediate silent as to open the gate for vocals part to start. Observe how the voice starts beautifully with Hammil's kind of heavy voice "I wonder why I let time slip by unconcerned .." oh my GOD! This is very nice! The whole track is well written.

Overall, by judging the first four tracks is actually enough for you to decide purchasing this CD. Again, if you are an early Crimson freaks and open mind with other musicians play in the similar style. But other tracks are OK as well. "Slow Fire" is probably the most complex (?) and noisy compared to the other at intro part. But it's gonna be OK when vocal part fills in. "Firefly" and "The Sun Absolute" are also worth enjoying. The only different thing is last track "For Someone" where the acoustic guitar is the main instrument. The vocal part and violin solo are wonderful.

If there is a downside, probably, would be the possibility of getting bored due to similar style (especially the way guitar is played) across various songs (except last track). But, it's OK though. So, this album, for me, deserves FIVE STAR even though the music composition is not that complex. Prog rock does not necessary mean complex stuff, right? What do you think? - Gatot Widayanto, Indonesia.