NIGHT BLOOMS

Opium Cartel is one of Jacob Holm-Lupo's projects. It is also a multinational project with Jacob from White Willow, Mattias Olsson from Anglagard, Rachel Haden from Todd Rundgren) & Tim Bowness from No-Man + some other musicians (mainly White Willow). A super group, bands like this was called back in the 1970s. This album was also pieced together with studio recordings from the members and I doubt if the band has ever been in the same room together. The joys of the internet !

This is by no means criticism or have any negative associations. It is great that so diverse musicians can meet up in cyberspace and make an album like this. An album that by no means sounds like 2010 and the internet age. Opium Cartel takes us back to the 1970s and add a lot of 2010 to the process too. Rachel Haden's vocals is superb. The same goes for the rest of the musicians here.

The music have much of the same DNA as Jacob served up on White Willow's new album Terminal Twilight. All fans of this band should purchase Night Blooms. There is a major, but some would say, a minor difference though. Where White Willow goes big on the sound, The Opium Cartel uses a much smaller sound. Minimalism is the key here. There is also a lot of electronica involved here. That and a lot of folk music. Acoustic guitars with Rachel's voice on the top. For example on the best track here; The Last Rose of Summer. In short; less is more is the motto on this album.

Besides of The Last Rose of Summer, the other tracks are a bit anonymous to me. And that even after the obligatory ten listening sessions. Hence, I would not label this as a great album. But the sound is great and the band is onto something here. It pleases me to hear that album # 2 is in the works. But this album does not quite make it.

3.5 stars

Soft and sometimes a little too sweet, this mellow extension of White Willow sounds very 70-s, thanks to the dominating flute, acoustic guitar and cello. There's also some electricity in this blend, but also very vintage: mellotron, moog and optigan.

The project is conceived by Jacob Holm-Lupo, guitarist and leader of the Norwegian prog-rock formation White Willow. Here he decided to go to a softer side of prog. He invited for this project a lot of WW personnel from different incarnations, and even reworked some White Willow tunes. Other collaborations on the record are Rhys Marsh from Anekdoten and Rachel Haden, who played bass for Todd Rundgren, but only sings here.

One should have patience with this album, it is a grower. When I listened to it the first time, I only noticed a reasonable but redundant cover of "By the river" from Brian Eno's extraordinary album "Before and After Science" from 1977. Alas, comparing to Brian Eno's genial, crystal clear production and arrangements, which even now sounds very up-to-date, this version lacks the weirdness and deepness. But well, after a few more listens I learned to appreciate the pastoral sound of "Night Blooms" and found some more interesting places on the record. For instance, the strong opener "Heavenman", with it's beautiful melody, the second "Better days ahead" and then a little (well, very little) heavier songs "Honeybee" and "Beach house".

Alas, there's just not enough to make me have that longing feeling to listen to this music. A few numbers I will never accept I think: "Three sleepers", "Flicker girl" and "The last rose of summer", all sung by Rachel Haden. There's too much nectar in them, it leaves a little to sweet aftertaste.

In other words, opposite to the suggestion in the project's name, it is not really addicting, but I still hope to find one day another record of the band which will not be that sweet, because the promise, the potential are present here.