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Review:
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To me this new Beardfish album from 2009 (featuring
a colourful, intricate triple fold-out-cover painting) sounds
as a logical successor of their previous CD, the highly
acclaimed Sleeping In Traffic (2008) : Part Two: a varied,
dynamic and a bit quirky sound, lots of interesting musical
ideas and influences that range from The Beatles and Frank
Zappa to Gentle Giant, Yes and Spock’s Beard. The variety
is incredible, just listen to the totally different atmospheres
in the first four compositions: a pleasant keyboard-oriented
sound (lots of Hammond along piano and harpsichord) with
a catchy beat in the instrumental Awaken The Sleeping, the
focus on fiery and biting electric – and delicate acoustic
guitar work (left and right channel guitars) with hints
from Led Zeppelin in the exciting, often heavy rocking title
track, 15 minutes with captivating shifting moods and wonderful
vintage keyboards (Hammond, Mellotron) in Until You Comply
Including Entropy and a sound similar to Frank Zappa in
the swinging In Real Life There Is No Algebra. What an interesting
musical journey! I am very pleased with the omnipresence
of the powerful and distinctive Hammond organ on this album,
especially in the tracks Where The Rain Comes In (strong
interplay between bass and Hammond), the compelling Abigail’s
Questioning (a swinging clavinet solo and a sensational
fiery guitar solo with lush Mellotron) and the splendid
final composition The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of: varied
vintage keyboards (Moog, Hammond and Mellotron) and a bombastic
final part featuring a propulsive rhythm-section and spectacular
Hammond work with a subtle wink to The Nice. Very special
is the alternating instrumental Coup De Grace (a tribute
to keyboard player/singer Rikard his grandfather) due to
the blend of accordion, this gives the climate a Parisian
touch, beautiful!
- Although at some moments to me Beardfish sounds a
bit without direction because of too many ideas in one song
or a ‘jam-session-like structure’, in general Destined Solitaire
delivers lots of interesting and captivating progrock, a
big hand for these four creative Swedish minds!
www.progwalhalla.com
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