CORVUS STONE II

If you like singalong songs, don't read further. You won't find it on this album. But if you'd like to be surprised and expect the unexpected, go ahead. I will guide you through the album, not with name droppings (although there will be a few), but by telling you which feelings every song give to me. And maybe you will feel the same. Because isn't it that why we love music? If you can't feel anything when you hear a track, it isn't worth for me listening to it.

The Simple Life: Good morning to everyone: the only thing that I miss is toast and eggs. This is a song you would like to hear every morning! It brings you in such a good mood! Great opener of a stunning album.

Early Morning Call: epic! Not easy to describe which feelings it gives, because it's a blend of so many sensations. I picture myself dancing in a big dance hall surrounded by elves. I see majestic mountains and flying eagles. Heavenly beautiful, and it gets peppered by the undeniable Tench guitar sound.

Boots For Hire: this is a cover from Murky Red's track on their album 'Time Doesn't Matter', sung by the Murky Red frontman himself, Stef Flaming. He also plays guitar on it. That dark melody brings a sinister atmosphere, makes your heart beating much faster, crawls on your back, and is brilliantly performed by the Corvus Stoners. One of my favorites on this album for sure.

Sneaky Entrance Into Lisa: too short. But that's their purpose. Corvus Stone likes to tease. This band is known for their use of humour, and doing the opposite of what people expect. You get draged into this beautiful music piece and then it stops. You only have the time to think: 'Who is Lisa and where is her entrance?'

Purple Stone: fasten your seatbelts! It starts with the sound of an engine followed by screech of wheels, and then it gets launched into a fast forward track. Wolff's drumwork thunders throughout the song. Suddenly you hear 'Nobody's gonna take my car'; did I already mention that they use lots of humour?

A Stoned Crow Meets The Rusty Wolff Rat: I bow for Petri, their brilliant bassist. Many rhythm changes. Normally such track would drive me mad. This one doesn't. The Stoners play with boundaries and go far. And when you think 'no way' they change it to 'yes please'. Many small but significant details make that you want to hear it over and over again. Imagine that you would miss one detail!

Lisa Has A Cigar: correct me if I'm wrong, but I immediately make the liaison between a cigar and Lisa's entrance. Or I have a dirty mind. Also too short. The baroque influences make me think of a Lady and Lord entering the big hall of a royal palace, bending their heads towards the other guests. Skilful piano work from Pasi. More of this!

Mr Cha Cha: Tench's guitar calls you, leads you to a place where no man has gone before. Majestic solos, killing Wolff's drum hits, a track with balls, and also one of my favorites. Many many influences but such a unique sound. I take my hat off for these musicians!

Dark Tower: the intro has such a lovely piano tingle from Mr. Jingle known as Pasi. Corvus Stone love the use of strange noises, and they use it a lot in here. Melancholic sound of Tench's guitar. When you hear Blake Carpenter singing 'It's in his final hour' with such a persuasion, you truly hope that the worst ain't going to happen and that the Black Tower won't be this person's final destiny.

Scandinavians in Mexico: Yeah, I love the percussion from Victor Tassone and Sean Filkins. Come on, let's go to Mexico! Grab your sombrero and don't forget the tequila. This song gives me such a holiday - Miami Vice feeling, which has nothing to do with Mexico, but so do Scandinavians. Everything is possible, just use your imagination.

Mystery Man: The intro could be a topper as movie sound track. And then it changes. Short flashes of a man on a mule, shaking up and down in the sun. Some Latin sounds. Then a Led Zeppelin feeling. Or Deep Purple? You'll get everything on your plate.

Camelus Bactrianus: this title! I had an incredible laugh when I read this for the first time. Genius! Nutty! It still makes me laugh. I won't write the Finnish version of the title, because I would make a fool of myself. The lyrics are in Finnish too, I don't understand one word of it, but I don't care. They fit the song as a glove. This track makes me think on the dark middle ages. Vikings (although they were/are not from Finland). Again one of my favorites!

Uncle Shunkle: strange rhythm changes, but Corvus Stone are known for that. I don't have an uncle who would be compatible with this track. But if I had such one, he probably would be stoned as hell. The Stoners are again brilliant in their own, contrary way.

Eternal Universe: majestic use of voices, accompanied and alternated with awesome instrumental pieces of music.

Moaning Lisa: Here's Lisa again. Finally passed the entrance, and a landscape unfolds before my eyes. Passing green fields and grey dunes to arrive at the sea. It rains slightly. When I think on Lisa's entrance and cigar I didn't expect this outcome, this big melancholic feeling. This track reminds me on Blackmore's Night, although that baroque sound is definitely Corvus Stone.

Campfire: very suitable title. The onliest thing I understand from the lyrics in fact. But it's not just a track such as when you were 14, sitting with your friends around the campfire and singing Halli Hallo. The track reminds you on campfire, but is so much more. Simply beautiful.

To end this long review: I didn't mention all the guest singers, because there are at least 7 different voices, but kudos to all of them!

I rated this album with five stars. Why? Well, if music has so much originality, humour, skilful instrumentals and wayward approach, it deserves this rating.