FUTURE PAST

Swedish big-hair music, I'd say. If you look at Hasse in the Flower King's 'Paradise Hotel' DVD, and in particular, in 'Stardust we are', then maybe you'll appreciate what I mean. This haircuts rocks!

Full-bodied, big-hearted music from The Flower Kings' lead singer, and certainly not the same as them, but likeable nonetheless. Alternative avenues are explored within its realm, but it never strays enough (for me at least) from the path that it's trying to follow. It all ends up (not surprisingly) with the last track trying to replicate a Flower Kings finale.

It won't cure your Flower Kings withdrawal symptoms, but equally it IS a likeable effort.

Swedish guitarist/singer Hasse Fröberg was born in 1949 and started his professional journey in the world of music with the Hard Rock band Spellbound.After two albums Spellbound demised in 1988 and Fröberg formed Solid Blue at the beginning of the 90's.The group had little success, but meanwhile Fröberg participated on Roine Stolt's ''The flower king'' album, building with him a relationship, that ended up with the promotion of Hasse to a full-time member of The Flower Kings in 1995.When The Flower Kings took a short break in 2008, Hasse formed his so-called companion, teaming up with ex-Spellbound members Ola Strandberg (drums) and Thomas Thomsson (bass), hiring also keyboardist Kjell Haraldsson and guitarist Anton Lindsjö.In 2010 the first album of Hasse Fröberg & Musical Companion ''Future past'' came out on Reingold Records, issued also in the USA by ProgRock Records.

Part of the tracks are leftovers from ''The sum of no evil'' recordings of THE FLOWER KINGS with additional material composed by Fröberg.The album is somewhat different from the music of THE FLOWER KINGS, although the more keyboard-oriented passages have definitely a symphonic feeling.''Future past'' moves primarly on the paths of Classic Rock and Hard Prog/AOR/Rock, having a strong retro aura throughout, based on the impressive duo of Fröberg and Lindsjö on guitars, offering striking solos and sharp electric riffs, often with a dual approach.Echoes of RAINBOW, LED ZEPPELIN, FOREIGNER and DEEP PURPLE are evident in these parts.However the music is not sterile or completely vintage in its deliveries.All the edgy guitar parts, deep bass grooves and solid drumming are accompanied by a very talented keyboard player, who's work on Hammond organ, piano and synthesizers not only fills the compositions with proggy vibes, but even leads them at moments towards a more Classic Prog approach, somewhat close to recent-day YES, with plenty of technical solos and huge, bombastic waves of flashy lines.The long tracks are full of surprises with passionate guitar moves meeting Classical-drenched keyboards meeting smoother and atmospheric lyrical parts, featuring excellent shifting moods.The short ones are also far from compatible and bland music.Either driven by hard guitar runs or elegant and even dynamic keyboard moves, they explore the whole Rock history, from the powerful Classic Rock of the 70's to the modern Progressive/Art Rock scene.

A really amazing debut for Hasse Fröberg and his company.Tremendous songwriting with tons of memorable material and catchy parts blended with grandiose and virtuosic instrumental textures.Highly recommended to all Prog and Classic Rock fans.