Flower Kings, The - Space Revolver


Year of Release: 2000
Label: InsideOut Music America
Catalog Number: IOMACD2014
Format: CD
Total Time: 75:04:00

This CD was a mind-boggling expedition of progressive rock. I have to say that this is some of the most vibrant and spanking new prog rock that I have heard in quite some time. Every so often a real humdinger comes along and knocks your socks off, well, this one did the job for me. Space Revolver is The Flower Kings' most recent release. This was my introduction to the group so I can offer neither opinions nor comparisons to the rest of their catalog.

This is an astonishing group of songs. "Monster Within" is over twelve minutes of complex changes and progressions into different levels of genre elucidation. At times the lead singer Roine Stolt, whom also plays some excellent guitar, sounds as if he is making his way through a 10CC song. On the other side of the spectrum is the beautiful song "You Don't Know What You've Got," which is so completely opposite of everything that you will hear before it, you will be wondering if you are listening to the same group. In fact it's so different they sound more like a top-forty (It runs for 2:39) crossover group than a top-flight prog band on those particular songs. This is an exception to the rule in the realm of prog rock; it's also a tribute to the pure talent and resolve of each group member to give the listener every facet of what they are able to create collectively. There is absolutely no room for singularity of purpose in this band. It's a group effort from start to finish. Their complex harmonies and jazz infused rock will have you reeling and looking for more of the same. This CD is a testimonial of steadiness that weaves intrinsically into your mind and thought process. Keep in mind that there is modicum of consistency in a musical sense in each track, and that is the very reason this is such a great album. The variety and intensity of this ambitious project will wow the critics and garner the respect and admiration of their peers in every music circle across the globe. Whatever preconceptions you may have about progressive rock can now be thrown out the window. Its groups like The Flower Kings that are rewriting the book.

Also released by InsideOut Europe (IOMCD062/SPV 085-41222 CD)


Tracklisting:
I Am The Sun (Part One) (15:03) / Dream On Dreamer (2:43) / Rumble Fish Twist (8:06) / Monster Within (12:55) / Chicken Farmer Song (5:09) / Underdog (5:29) / You Don't Know What Yu've Got (2:39) / Slave Ot Money (7:30) / A King's Prayer (6:02) / I Am The Sun (Part Two) (10:48)

Musicians:
Roine Stolt - guitars, vocals, keyboards
Tomas Bodin - keyboards
Hasse Fröberg - voices
Jonas Reingold - bass
Jaime Salazar - drums, percussion
Hasse Bruniusson - percussion, voices

Discography:
Roine Stolt - The Flower King (1994/2001/2004)
Back In The World Of Adventures (1995)
Retropolis (1996)
Stardust We Are (1997/2000)
Scanning The Greenhouse (comp) (1998)
Edition Limitée Quebec (1998) (only 700 copies!)
Flower Power (1999)
TFK fanclub disc (2000) (free CD exclusive to fanclub members only)
Alive On Planet Earth (2000)
Space Revolver (2000)
Space Revolver Special Edition (2CD set) (2000)
The Rainmaker (2001)
The Rainmaker - Special Edition (2001)
Unfold The Future (2002)
Live In New York: Official Bootleg (2002)
Fan Club CD 2002 (2002)
Fan Club CD 2004 (2004)
Adam & Eve (2004)
BetchaWannaDanceStoopid (2004)
Harvest (fan club CD) (2005)
Paradox Hotel (2006)
The Road Back Home (2007)
The Sum Of No Evil (2007)
The Sum Of No Evil (Special Edition) (2007)
Banks Of Eden (2012)
Roine Stolt's The Flower King - Manifesto Of An Alchemist (2018)
Waiting For Miracles (2019)

Meet The Flower Kings - Live Recording (DVD) (2003)
Instant Delivery (DVD) (2006)
Instant Delivery - Limited Edition (2CD/2DVD) (2006)

Genre: Symphonic Prog

Origin SE

Added: August 16th 2001
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck

Artist website: www.roinestolt.com
Hits: 2579
Language: english

  

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