Paatos - Kallocain


Year of Release: 2004
Label: InsideOut
Catalog Number: IOMCD 169/IOMSECD 169
Format: CD
Total Time: 51:29:00

In the five years that I am actively involved in progressive rock, I have noticed that there is a lot of cross-breeding between bands, often with impressive results. A drawback of the fact that I haven't spent most of my life wandering through this great music genre, is that many bands no longer exist and I only know several of them by name. Sometimes I learn about bands through their "offspring." It seems the Swedish bands Landberk and Ägg have an excellent reputation. In 1993 they brought their offspring forth: Paatos.[*] Their second album, Kallocain, really impressed me!

It may seem a bit strange, as the album is released by InsideOut Music, as it does not fit in the style of Ayreon, The Flower Kings, Threshold or Dead Soul Tribe, but for them it might be a very good deal, as they get presented to a wider audience. And InsideOut is, in my opinion, one of the best labels, who do a lot for their artists. Musically I can only describe Kallocain as Art Rock. No heavy, crunchy guitarriffs and fast double bass, but melancholic violins and mellotrons colour the musical palette of Paatos. On top of everything is the fragile, enchanting voice of Petronella Nettermalm. Her voice forms such a magnificent union with the music and brings in the slightly dark, melancholic atmosphere, which is only enhanced by the music that seems to follow her voice all the way. Comparissons with Björk are inevitable, but I also hear hints of Earth and Fire (a Dutch prog band from the 70s, with singer Jerney Kaagman, a band definitely worth to check out).

All in all, Paatos manages to bring their own sound, full of emotions, feelings and beautiful music. It is such a delight to listen to Petronella. However, her being the center of the music means there are no solos that stand out or anything. No, the musicians just provide they basis for the vocals, albeit really good. The soft, steady drums by Ricard Huxflux and the variety of keyboards by Johan Wallén, who plays piano, mellotron, Hammond and several other synths, layering the atmosphere on the album. Despite the absence of crunchy solos, the play of Peter Nylander is modest, but excellent and adds just what fits the music.

Kallocain is an album that can totally absorb you in their own world of feelings and emotions. So far I don't have a favourite track, I just love all 9 songs on the album. To be honest, I think this album fits best if you listen to it in the autumn, when it's raining outside and the leaves are falling down and you sit at a fireplace, with a good book. Then the surroundings are perfect for Kallocain. But even in the summer it still is a great album to listen to. I love it, and I hope you will to. Highly recommended!

[* the band itself officially formed in 2000, but the seeds were sown in 1993 when Dimle, Fiske, Huxflux Nettermalm, and Wallén played together at rock club... see the band's bio at their website for details. -PW ed.]

Also released as a special edition (IOMSECD 169)

[This review originally appeared July 2004 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
Gasoline (5:55) / Holding On (5:00) / Happiness (5:20) / Absinth Minded (4:49) / Look At Us (5:25) / Reality (7:37) / Stream (5:17) / Won't Be Coming Back (5:32) / In Time (6:34)

Bonus DVD (special edition only): Won't Be Coming Back / Gasoline / Reality / Hypnotique

Musicians:
Petronella Nettermalm - vocals, cello
Ricard Nettermalm - drums, saw and delay
Reine Fiske - guitar
Stefan Dimle - bass, double bass
Johan Wallén - piano, Mellotron, Hammond organ, syntheziser, sampler, harmonium

Discography:
"Perception/Tea" (2001)
Timeloss (2002)
Kallocain (2004)
Silence Of Another Kind (2006) Sensors (2007)
Breathing (2011)
V (2012)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin SE

Added: November 28th 2004
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.paatos.com
Hits: 2506
Language: english

  

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