A brittle masterpiece

Admittedly, I too had my difficulties in the first hearing of the new Flower Kings album. But was not been with each album the band so? Only too well I still remember the first listening impressions of "The Rainmaker," about how I disappointed in the first moment was when I think I hear variations of what is already known, this unspectacular melodies that were not catchy, Arrangements without internal cohesion (so I thought) ...
But wait a minute, I'm talking about here but from my favorite band !! ??
Well, I was just wrong! And after I had sat down with open ears and without prefabricated expectations before the speakers and gave the songs time to unfold, the initial skepticism was blown away. Today I consider "The Rainmaker" for an unduly underestimated, secret masterpiece of Sweden.
But to the point. I can only give to me personally here on record: with "Adam & Eve" It is the same. I was a little disappointed after the first Hördurchlauf and put the album somewhat sourly voted on the shelf. The next day I dug it out again. Lo and behold, after the second concentrated listening, the brittle beauty of this music began to take effect! And after the 3rd time I had finally won.
I wondered. What at first so disturbing me, the "typical" features of the Flower Kings music making, precisely the identity of this band, consisting of so idiosyncratic and style-defining individualists. Just because Roine Stolt both as a composer and as a guitarist has a typical handwriting, is what he and his band produce, always build on earlier and more remember. And those who know the band, which of course are first these familiar elements stand out. If you look at but once oriented, has deeper and more attentive be heard in the sound universe of "Adam & Eve", suddenly the wealth of new ideas, new sounds and ideas is evident that are exciting and fun, and the known Tademarks make it appear new and interesting in new lighting also.
"Adam & Eve" is sure to polarize. In addition to the emotioalen, complex-packed predecessors "Unfold the Future" will initially look like a wallflower, because it has not the emphasis, the emphasis, the massive pathos of Vorhängers. But this wallflower will grow and over time reveal his own, quieter, unglamorous qualities. War "Unfold" a monstrous fireworks that dazzled with its missiles, so the music of "A & E" lights rather from the inside out. For me it's the roundest, most consistent, most mature work of the band; even if it might not be the big, melodious, soul caressing melodies like "Stardust" possesses. There has (among a seemingly brittle surface) soul and character, connected to a unity and airy economy of means, which has been so far not found in the Flower Kings.
And the more I think about it, the more lose "A & E" from its initial bulkiness. I want to highlight just a few of my personal favorites:
"Love Supreme": a through-composed, exquisitely textured Long Track, which grows with each listen, full of the most sublime ideas and subtle, gradually ear stealing melodies.
"A Vampire's View" in the best sense of the word "extreme" song, dark, intense, "hair-raising", with vocals by Daniel gänsehauterzeugendem Gildenlöw. Perhaps the deepest emotional what Roine Stolt has composed
"Adam & Eve": a piece with "Metal Touch" without it being metal. Hart and impulsive and yet easy instrumented transparent.
"Timelines": framed by a furious jazz-rock intro and outro a wonderfully relaxed, sometimes almost groovy song with the best blues solo by Roine Stolt. (It is in the heart just yet a blues man!)
"Starlight Man": turn light and airy, a "Happy Song", without being shallow or trite (although the hard Progger Group is here forgiven the mouth); the chorus no longer get out of your head and sounds like Jon Anderson sang him, and with his three minutes absolutely top ten suited.
These are vague and inadequate attempts to describe the album. One must hear it, must trace its nuances, its rough charm with open ears. It is not an album for the quick kick even for drinkable Prog-edification. We must get involved in this "adult" Prog which does not shine by cheap effects, but to be conquered.
So on because, Eroberungswillge! The effort is worth it!