Flower Kings, The - Back In The World Of Adventures

Year of Release: 2001
Label: InsideOut
Catalog Number: CD IOMCD051/SPV 085-31812
Format: CD
Total Time: 69:21:00

The AMG.com site classifies The Flower Kings' music as complex, trippy, cerebral, and sophisticated. Okay, I will go with that; it's one of the best explanations of their sound I have ever heard, and felt it was important to point out, not to mention the rave reviews they received for this release. This is my final review for the Swedish prog-rockers. I now have to wait for a new release to hear more. Did I get my fill you ask? Hell no! I want more. It has been a complete joy to listen to every album, and this 1995 release Back In The World Adventures was another musical voyage beyond compare. I have gushed and given glowing reviews with very little criticism to this group on literally every recording, and rightfully so I might say. There are few groups that have put together such a regular recording schedule as they have, and the sheer volume of material is mind boggling. They deserve the accolades and top-notch coverage. They are a classy bunch of guys that give it all up for their fans, and you can tell when you listen to every song.

Roine Stolt was not only the lead guitar player when this was recorded and released, he was the lead singer. His magical touch with the guitar and his contagious accented vocal style gave the group a unique and irresistible sound that drew in not only the prog rockers, but rock and pop listeners as well. This particular album is a fine example of the way they presented themselves as a mulit-hued combination of sounds and feelings. Anyone with a love for music and a beating heart can understand what TFK is all about.

"World Of Adventures" opens the door and welcomes you back to the fantasy land of TFK, and one of their future show stoppers, "Big Puzzle," is the grand finale. Both songs clock in at 13 minutes plus. They are both prog-rock nuggets as pure and sweet as honey right from the hive. With power-pop hooks and a solid prog-rock foundation, Stolt and his group lure you in and make you part of their story, whether you want it to happen or not, it just does. It's a magical mystery tour with a tripped out Beatlesque twist to it all. When it comes to music, life doesn't get any better than this. Stand by, because once you think you have heard the best TFK album of all they come out with another one that's even better. I was beside myself listening to this CD. Seven years ago they sounded almost as good as they do today, and they have improved with each successive album. My final conclusion is that they have always been fantastic; they have just gotten more fantastic in varying degrees with the passing of time. Get their entire catalog; you will love every minute of it.

Tracklisting:
World Of Adventures (13:37) / Atomic Prince/Kaleidoscope (7:49) / Go West Judas (7:47) / Train To Nowhere (3:49) / Oblivion Road (3:47) / Theme For A Hero (8:32) / Temple Of The Snakes (1:23) / My Cosmic Lover (6:46) / The Wonder Wheel (4:17) / Big Puzzle (13:34)

Musicians:
Hans Bruniusson - percussion, drums
Ulf Artan Wallander - soprano sax
Jaime Salazar - drums
Tomas Bodin - synthesizer, flute, piano, Hammond organ, Mellotron, mixing, effects
Roine Stolt - guitar, keyboards, vocals
Michael Stolt - bass, guitar, 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: March 24th 2002
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck

Artist website: www.roinestolt.com
Hits: 2696
Language: english