PARADOX HOTEL

I've been a Fan of the Kings for a long time, starting with "Retropolis", the first album I heard from TFK. I loved it's playful and life affirming nature with just enough concern leveled at world leaders and difficult issues: and it sounded great with every play, getting better with each listen! So it is very pleasing that "Paradox Hotel" reminds me of "Retropolis." It's themes are similar Flower Kings issues with irony and wit being applied to issues like not letting leaders fool you and a gnostic type of Christianity - something I often dislike in music, as I don't enjoy being prostilized to. Thankfully, that isn't the case. All messages are addressed in an adult manner that even a child could underestand. Believe me, if I don't find it offensive than I doubt most folks who prefer sermons at religious gatherings will find no fault with the subject manor.

Some changes have been made. The Kings have a fine new drummer replacing an equally fine drummer. Marcus Liliequist fits in a bit better as he seems more equipped to play in the rock idiom. One of the issues I had with "Unfold the Future" and "Adam and Eve" were the occasions into jazz fusion, which while good, often took the band out of their more comfortable groove, and while I'll anger some listeners, created a schism between jazz oriented players and Roine Stolt, who has a good feel for jazz fusion but just doesn't seem to sound right when the rhythm section is smoking on a agressive jazz fusion groove. Roine Stolt is many things as a guitarist but he isn't a jazz player and as such offerred rock oriented solos and chord progressions that often created a schism. Marcus Liliequist fits into TFK considerably better and is able to hold the band together on every direction they go, which is many, sometimes frequently.

Also back is a sense of humor and experimentation that seemed taken up by intense jazz segments on the noted albums.

Best of all, "Paradox Hotel" was practiced and featured compositions by Tomas Bodin, the band's keyboardist and Hans Froberg, it's singer and additional guitarist. This makes for a more open feel to the album and best of all, the band is firing on all cylinders. Froberg has been developing as a vocalist with every album and is at the point where I prefer his voice to Roine Stolt's, which, had you said this several years ago I would have laughed at. But to his credit Hans can do it all now. His stylistic range goes from strong leads in baritone to tennor range, his tonal reigon is spectacular. He can be smooth and soaring or gruff and snarling. Perhaps most surprising is his blue eyed soul sounds as demonstrated on, "Monsters & Men." No need to fear, the vocal duets between Hans and Roine are as good as ever, and while Hans has become the lead vocalist, there are still plenty of moments for Roine's expressive vocals.

According to band sources much of the album was recording live in the studio with some overdubs, and the album has a punchy mix that sounds like a fantastic live concert...the kind some bands would pass off as live, leaving out the overdubs and the insanely good performances.

"Paradox Hotel" is a complete work, so there isn't really a way of saying which CD is better. The work is uniformly excellent, and this is said about a band that seems to have more double albums than single ones! As corny as it may sound, "Paradox Hotel" is by far the most concise double CD The Flower Kings have released. There is no filler material. In fact, it has the least amount of lesser quality songs of any TFK release.

This makes "Paradox Hotel" a serious candidate for album of the year. While I normally don't recommend double albums as a starting place for new users "Paradox Hotel" has such a good flow and variation of material that it is difficult to find much to say wrong about it. Maybe it's too long, but there are two CDs and you aren't compelled to listen to both, although it is a pleasant experience.

It's funny that I've spent so little time discussing The Flower Kings! Essentially, TFK are a band that lean in the direction of occasional mimicry of idols from the golden age of progressive rock. In particular, arrangements tend to be similar to YES and Genesis with songs that have sometimes similar themes and literal quotes from past masters of the progressive genre. Usually the YES feel is found in the grandiose arrangements, complete with massive song structures which are symphonic in nature. TFK are also subtle; more so than YES, and in this case there are many of the hair-pin turns and beauty found in Peter Gabriel era Genesis. Beyond these two stellar artists, guitarist / composer Roine Stolt has an affinity for the wah-wah, particularly when it comes to angular solos similar but more melodic than Frank Zappa. In fact, the art-work and song structures, down to the name of certain songs, are the best Zappa songs he never wrote. Listen to Disc 2's "The Unorthodox Dancine Lesson" which is pure Zappa in terms of humor and dynanism. In general Roine Stolt is a 70s based guitarist that has kept up with time, unlike so many of his contemporaries. This is one reason his sound and approach to whatever he plays works so well. He is a guitar hero who can hold his own with Steve Howe, another major influence, but can also hold his own with today's more technical guitarists.

Thomas Bodin creates novel to extravagent keyboard parts, particularly when using synths. Bodin is novel in his electronica leanings which give a nice edge to his part in the band.

Essentially, every player in The Flower Kings would be a major find for any other band, and as is the case, many of the members have side projects, Stolt included. While a product of the original greats in progressive music, the Kings are already part of the greats they sometimes emulate. In the end, they are adroit writers and brilliant players.

There are a good number of TFK songs here at Prog Archives. While they aren't from "Paradox Hotel" they will give you a good idea of what The Flower Kings sound like and their superb mixture of old and new school progressive. They may take a listen or two to get you interested, but of the more modern bands within the Progressive Rock scene, they are worth a few albums worth of purchases. I really would suggest "Paradox Hotel" as a starting point as it is The Flower Kings at their apex, with a long list of styles and obvious pleasure in the making of an album. It reminds me a bit of The Beatles, White Album which was all over the place and did have filler. At the Paradox Hotel there is no filler and plenty room for TFK to be caught playing for the pure enjoyment. Very few albums like this exist, let alone are so well produced and performed!

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