THE FLOWER KINGS

(SWEDEN)

BANKS OF EDEN

(2012)
LABEL:

INSIDEOUT MUSIC

GENRE:

PROGRESSIVE ROCK

TAGS:
Groovy, Old School, Psychedelic, Symphonic
""Banks Of Eden" is a very good vintage of the Flower Kings, if not to bring any evolution."
MARC M (29.06.2012)  
4/5
(0) opinions (0) comment(s)
After five years of absence, the Flower Kings have not changed much. Roine Stolt's band has reformed around its leader, more or less as he was before. Tomas Bodin, Jonas Reingold and Hasse Fröberg are back. The new drummer is Felix Lehrmann and he is simply very good, both fine and powerful when needed, alternately sober and able to develop an abundant and bubbling game of impressive complexity!

The experimental and dissonant side of the band is almost completely set aside in favour of finely chiseled melodies, except on a rather hard rock bluesy section of "Numbers". The influences have not changed. Always the same elements of symphonic, classical, jazz and blues music at the same time, this alternation of joyful and darker, grandiose and intimate moments, often within the same piece, with here and there a section closer to hard rock. 

The sound hasn't evolved either, but in the end it's their trademark. We find these guitar/keyboard dialogues, with the classical keyboard timbres: Hammond organ, piano, electric piano, mellotron, minimoog, church organ, plus some others. The instrumental parts are also very familiar, with always the same mixture of jerky, syncopated rhythms, which contrast with superb more solemn moments on slow and majestic rhythms, from which rise lyrical guitar solos, of which Stolt and even Fröberg are not stingy on this album ! Tomas Bodin also often develops playful and sometimes bizarre solos, with a certain restraint (and yet Bodin is a true virtuoso).

"Banks Of Eden" is a resolutely melodic album, not very aggressive, with many tracks in major key despite often rather dark texts, which sometimes creates a surprising contrast. The bonus CD of the special edition contains a video with studio interviews, and four other medium-length songs. These integrate very well overall, contributing to make "Banks Of Eden" a very good vintage of the Flower Kings, if not to bring any evolution.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Numbers (25:20)
02. For The Love Of Gold (07:30)
03. Pandemonium (6:05)
04. For Those About To Drown (6:50)
05. Rising The Imperial (7:40)
06. Illuminati (bonus Track) (5:10)
07. Fireghosts (bonus Track) (6:20)
08. Going Up (bonus Track) (5:50)
09. Lo Lines (bonus Track) (4:40)

LINEUP:
Felix Lehrmann: Batterie
Hans Fröberg: Chant / Guitares
Inger Ohlen-Reingold (invitée): Choeurs sur "Rising The Imperial"
Jonas Reingold: Basse / choeurs , guitare acoustique
Roine Stolt: Chant / Guitares / Claviers
Tomas Bodin: Claviers
   
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READERS
4.2/5 (13 view(s))
STAFF:
4.2/5 (8 view(s))
MY RATING
 
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