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"Despite its length, “Sommarskymnigslius” is exciting throughout its 75 minutes, offering a varied palette capable of satisfying all fans of progressive rock that's accessible without being simplistic."
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4/5
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Do we still need to introduce Kaipa, the veteran band of the Swedish progressive scene that saw a certain Roine Stolt take his first steps in this musical galaxy? After five decades of existence, founder Hans Ludin is still at the helm, with his sixteenth studio album, “Sommarskymnigslius”, which, if our notions of Swedish are correct, evokes the dawn of a summer's day. More generally, this new production is built around eight tracks that form an allegory drawing a parallel between a nocturnal cycle running from sunset to dawn, and a period running from death to rebirth - in other words, a life in reverse.
Made up of long, epic tracks, introduced and closed by the same composition cut in two, this new album takes up the band's now classic ingredients, those found on every album since the reformation at the start of this millennium. Long, varied, carefully orchestrated tracks, enhanced by the unfailing talent of the various musicians, featuring the magnificent vocals of Aleena Gibson and Hans Ludin, take the listener through a farandole of more or less complex themes and melodies.
Whereas the magnificent 'Seven Birds' slowly unfurls its almost ten minutes in one go, flowing between the ears with its folk melody, superb guitar solos and an a capella passage, 'Chased by Wolves and Burned by the Sun' proves to be much more complex, both rhythmically and melodically, coming close at times to 1970s Yes or even Solstice through the grace of the violin. The rhythm section does an outstanding job of keeping a low profile, yet providing a remarkable foundation for all the tracks, driving many changes of mood and occasionally playing its own score. Jonas Reingold offers us a magnificent bass line as a counterpoint to the guitar solos on 'Like Thousand Dawns'.
And if we had to find a single title that sums up the spirit of this album, then 'Spiderweb Train' would be the ideal candidate. Throughout its fifteen minutes, the track takes the listener from symphonic shores to more tortured progressive shores, before returning to calmer waters with ternary measures that allow Per Nilsson's guitar to sway from one solo to the next, enhanced by a few notes of Irish flute, while from the top of his keyboards, master of ceremonies Hans Ludin wraps up the whole with sounds as varied as each other. Just splendid.
Despite its length, “Sommarskymnigslius” is fascinating from one end of its 75 minutes to the other, offering a varied palette capable of satisfying all fans of progressive rock that's accessible without being simplistic. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Sommarskymningsljus - 1:30
02. Seven Birds - 9:50
03. Like Thousand Dawns - 11:08
04. Revelationview - 9:28
05. Chased by Wolves And Burned by The Sun - 10:17
 06. Spiderweb Train - 15:29
07. Songs In Our Hands - 13:00
08. Sommargryningsljus - 3:58
LINEUP:
Aleena Gibson: Chant
Darby Todd: Batterie
Hans Lundin: Claviers / Choeurs
Jonas Reingold: Basse
Patrik Lundström: Chant
Per Nilsson: Guitares
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READERS
4/5 (1 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.7/5 (3 view(s))
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