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Patrik Skantze and the Free Soul Society: Fiction at First View
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Mimo Sound Records (MIMO 010)
 Patrik Skantze is a 35 year-old Swedish self-taught musician who released his second album with his new band last year. Skantze draws most of his influences from symphonic and progressive rock and Nick Drake-styled, fragile and folky singer/songwriter stuff. Fiction at First View is thus a marvellous combination of progressive rock, exquisite melodies, acoustic folk and pop. Patrik’s love for Yes shines through on many songs. Unlike on his first album in addition to playing guitar, bass and keyboards Patric also sings on this album. The other musicians are Muut muusikot ovat Christopher Korling (drums, congas), Eva Björkner (vocals, flute, piano) and Patric Öhlin (bass, cello).
A radio edit of the title track starts the album and it is a mellow, pretty, soft and very great pop masterpiece. The melancholic and nice “Life Provider” begins with an acoustic guitar and has some vocoder vocals and good melodies. Symphonic prog is presented with the rather peaceful instrumental ”A New Morning in Sight” that has acoustic guitar, flute, synthesisers, cello and percussions. The short “Strange Days” is a beautiful, relaxed and atmospheric number. “Gleam of Hope” is rather easy and soft singer/songwriter stuff. The folky and beautiful “My Dreams of Late” includes some picked guitar and also superb female vocals and brings to mind Nick Drake. The over 11-minute-long instrumental “The Plunge” is possibly the most progressive number on the disc and also rocks a but harder at times. A nice track that has a lot of parts and even a drum solo. They go folky again with “Craving for Knowledge” that only has some vocals and acoustic, and along the same lines goes also an instrumental called “Appease”. For the last treat after some birdsong we hear a longer version of “Fiction at First View” that is a good ending for this very pleasant album. Available through Record Heaven in Sweden.
www.mimosound.com |
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