Ritual - The Hemulic Voluntary Band


Year of Release: 2007
Label: Tempus Fugit
Catalog Number: SPV 79562 TFVO 23
Format: CD
Total Time: 53:04:00

The Hemulic Voluntary Band is the latest release from Sweden's Ritual. It begins with the "proggy" title track - can you not hear the widdling keyboards and not think of classic symphonic prog? Maybe think of classic Yes a bit? It is an upbeat and happy piece that is their "Sgt. Pepper's"? in theme rather than in style. Although it references the stories of Tove Jansson, as do many a Ritual track, vocalist Patrick Lundström explained at RoSFest that the Hemulic Voluntary Band were only mentioned in passing in the stories.

And this track isn't your "typical" Ritual. That comes in the punchier "In The Wild," which has the same kind of driving power as Think Like A Mountain's "Explosive Paste" or "Infinite Justice." This song lives up to its title, no less in the wild guitar solo from Lundström. These first two pieces will leave you exhausted, given the bristling energy of the first and the fiery passion of the second. The highlight element in this second track are the swirling piano-like keyboard passages that give this piece an epic sweep (well, what Ritual piece doesn't have epic sweep of some sort?). Not that they haven't been before, but this piece has a cool sophistication that shows they've elevated their game yet again.

So, coming to "Late In November," the album's pastoral piece, is a chance to catch one's breath. Acoustic guitar, nyckelharpa, recorder, and vocals are at the core of this piece. It's got an old world feel and a romantic? sweep. It has the requisite intimacy that many pastoral pieces have - vocals are prominent in the mix, moving them closer to your ear, although not at the expense of the other instrumentation.

"The Groke" is a darker, sad piece; a deep toned bass leading the lumbering procession of percussion as we approach ... something. Or as something approaches? But it's not something sinister in and of itself, but in how one reacts to that something. It is the "other" -- literary parallels can be found in Frankenstein and Beowulf (or, perhaps more so, John Gardner's Grendel) although the titular character here is female. As the band note:

The Groke (?Märran" in Swedish) may be one of Tove Jansson?s most touching and fascinating characters. She is cold, big and grey, slowly shuffling along, with cold staring eyes and a wide row of white shiny teeth. Wherever she stands, the ground below her freezes and plants and grass die. She probably seeks friendship and warmth, but she is feared by everyone and everything, which makes her a sad and very lonely creature."

I didn't intend to write the "song by song" review, but darn if every song isn't worth mentioning. "Waiting By The Bridge" is another upbeat track with a hint or two of Yes, certainly in the vocal harmonies and keyboard/guitar interplay. There's an interesting juxtaposition to the active guitar and keyboard and the measured percussion; the former doesn't make the latter seem slow, nor does the latter seem out of step with the former? and we also treated to some more lovely piano playing from Jon Gamble.

The album's epic epic - 27-plus minutes - is "A Dangerous Journey" which closes the album. Like Alice In Wonderland, the central character, a girl, goes on a fantastical journey, as she goes off in pursuit of her cat. It isn't as simple as that sounds; yes, there's a subtext to the story, but on the surface Susanna is looking for adventure and gets it (or creates it). And like all good adventure stories - and yes, this is a song based on a Jansson story - Susanna is joined on her adventure by others in this fantasy world.

You may think that Ritual would have taken this fairytale and made it sound palpable for younger audiences. Not that they should have, mind, just that a story about young folks is usually aimed at young folks. Well, no; as we can expect from Ritual, this is a very adult approach to a children's tale. And no, I don't mean adult in that you need to keep your young ones out of the room. But even as the music can be light and airy? Ritual play in earnest? They aren't the Wiggles? Just listen to that down 'n' dirty growling guitar at the 21-plus minute mark, soon joined by thunderous percussion, a pulse-pounding rhythm (and yes, I think in the story the characters are being chased).

What starts out with an acoustic underpinning, not quite pastoral but with pastoral elements? old-world Europe to my ears with acoustic guitar, recorder, nyckelharpa? moves into something? a bit artier when the story takes a darker turn. And in another segment, we get a more lively rhythm, harking back to the Yes-like elements of earlier songs. And, whether unconscious or deliberate, there's a certain repeating passage that flows along like the Beatles' "The Fool On The Hill."

Though not part of the review, I should mention that about the time the song started, my cat started getting fussy, looking for his own adventure. As if he knew a fictional cousin were on the prowl somewhere. And, my sister remarked at RoSFest about their performance that "this must have been your favorite song; it's got a cat in it" -- she thinks I'm the "crazy cat lady," you see. No, not like Catwoman --- though I wouldn't object to looking like Halle Berry or Julie Newmar (at least she back then) -- more like those with multiple cats. I've only one?

Anyway?. This truly is an epic and features more of the band's great interplay. Yes, that's what is best about this and some past Ritual releases - the depth of instrumentation. There is always something going on from all corners of the stage and never in conflict with each other. This makes for a rich tapestry of music - to use a well-worn and overused metaphor. But it's very appropriate I think, and certainly apropos.

I have been listening to this album a lot. Oh, sure, one must listen more than once to review it, and yes, I was for a time prepping for RoSFest, but this goes beyond that. I have been listening to this a lot, and like it more and more each time. It is a terrific album; time will tell if this is their masterpiece? For now it's one of the best releases of 2007!


Tracklisting:
The Hemulic Voluntary Band (4:53) / In The Wild (5:53) / Late In November (4:56) / The Groke (6:05) / Waiting By The Bridge (4:36) / A Dangerous Journey (26:33)

Musicians:
Patrick Lundstr?m - vocals, guitars
Jon Gamble - keyboards, harmonium, harmonica & vocals
Fredrik Lindqvist - bass, bouzouki, mandolin, flutes, etc.
Johan Nordgren - drums, percussion

Discography:
Ritual (1995/2004)
Ritual (1996) (Japanese version)
Did I Go Wrong (EP) (1999)
Superb Birth (1999/2000/2004)
Think Like A Mountain (2003)
Live (2006)
The Hemulic Voluntary Band (2007)
Glimpses From The Story Of Mr. Bogd (2020)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin SE

Added: May 25th 2008
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.ritual.se
Hits: 3257
Language: english

  

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