Review by Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
4 stars out of 4
The Flower Kings had a very busy schedule in the year 2000. "Retropolis"
(1996) was one of three dazzling studio albums reissued (previously
released on Foxtrot Records) by Inside Out Music America that year,
the others were "Space Revolver" (2000) and the epic classic "Stardust
We Are"(1997). That kind of output quickly garnered them attention
as one of the premier progressive rock bands in the world. With such
a tremendously solid string of releases in such a short span of time,
people began to wonder who these guys were. The live recording "Alive
on Planet Earth" (1998, 1999) also was reissued the same year. Inside
Out Music America brought a new awareness the TFK catalog. Anyone
with a hint of interest in progressive rock would be drooling in the
record bins when looking over the awesome catalog this group has.
What makes it that much more unbelievable is the fact that every single
album is a prog-rock classic in its own right.
What I found similar with this recording in comparison to others was
the ever present consistency of quality musicianship and the appealing
mixture of vocal tracks and instrumentals. The eleven minute instrumental
opus "Retropolis" unmistakably defines the bands need to give the
nod to their influences Yes, Pink Floyd, and so many others that blazed
the trail for them to continue on. The futuristic cover art is in
direct proportion to their thematic musical journeys (like Roger Dean's
Yes covers). What was at times subtle, and other times more than obvious
to me were the middle-eastern influences in the guitar playing of
Rione Stolt. Perhaps I missed that the first time around on previous
albums, but it's definitely there. Stolt sounds like Zappa doing his
best Steve Howe impression at times. Tomas Bodin is given the green
light and free reign with his Hammond and other keyboard effects;
I found that aspect more predominant than on any other release. And
that factor is due to the mix and sound quality being noticeably different
on "Retropolis" as well. From "Stardust We Are" forward there was
a change in the way they recorded their music. I am grateful for the
opportunity to hear from whence they came and all the developmental
phases they went through. You can experience this too, but only if
you work your way through their entire catalog as I have. Stolt's
guitar is typically splendid but slightly lower profile than usual,
and that in effect brings Bodin and the rest of the group more out
front for a discerning listener.
I believe that a remaster of this album would make it brighter and
cleaner regarding sound and sonics. Don't get me wrong, this is a
great recording. I guess I have come to expect musical perfection
in all aspects of a Flower Kings' recordings. These guys are still
an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10. As the innovators that came before them,
they set the standard in the year 2000 and continue to be the group
that has been setting the pace for all others to follow beyond the new millennium.
1. Rhythm of Life (Bodin) - 0:28
2. Retropolis (Stolt) - 11:07
3. Rhythm of the Sea (Stolt) - 6:13
4. There Is More to This World (Stolt) - 10:07
5. Romancing the City (Bodin) - 0:53
6. The Melting Pot (Stolt) - 5:48
7. Silent Sorrow (Stolt) - 7:38
8. The Judas Kiss (Stolt) - 7:39
9. Retroplis by Night (Bodin) - 3:06
10. Flora Majora (Stolt) - 6:49
11. The Road Back Home (Stolt) - 8:57
Meet The Band:
Hans Bruniusson - Percussion
Ulf Artan Wallander - Sax (Soprano)
Jaime Salazar - Percussion, Drums
Tomas Bodin - Synthesizer, Piano, Organ (Hammond), Mellotron, Effects
Roine Stolt - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Voices
Hans Froberg - Voices
Thomas Bodin - Synthesizer, Piano, Organ (Hammond), Mellotron, Mixing, Fx Vocals
Michael Stolt - Bass
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