GLIMPSES FROM A LIFETIME - 20:12

As I wrote on previous reviews, AUTUM BREEZE is a surprising band, they were active in the 70's with only one release and resurrected in the 21st Century, originally to offer us previously unreleased material but then turning into an active band again, and now we have their second original release, a 20 minutes multi part epic recorded in "Yellow Snow Studio - Stockholm" in 2011, the rebirth of an excellent but obscure band and a second chance for excellent musicians.

Since their previous release "The Autumn Band" it was obvious that the 70's hadn't ended for this guys, playing in a style that older Progheads always miss. The only problem was that the albums were a bit simple for the most demanding fans of the genre, but this has changed, "Glimpses From a Lifetime" is a well elaborate album with radical changes and complex music.

The vocals performed by Ragnar Klevman and the peculiar Sara Bergqvist are delightful, while the combination of the talents of multi-instrumentalist Gert Magnusson and pianist Jan Warmqvist provide us of all the Prog we can ask for. But that not all, the addition of William Bellbrandt in the guitar provides that heavy distorted touch reminiscent of guys like Mick Box from Uriah Heep, creating a wonderful nostalgic feeling on all of us who search for this kind of music since childhood, a sound that usually we can only find buying albums released 3 or 4 decades ago.

The only minor flaw I find is the production, which in my opinion is a bit rough, but I'm here to talk about music, not about technical issues, and the music of AUTUMN BREEZE deserves no less than 4 solid stars.

I just hope the next time they release a full studio album, because this EP has left me with the taste of honey in the lips and asking for more.

You never know what to expect from old cult bands who made new records, a couple of years ago "Autumn Breeze" The Swedish symphonic rockband from the seventies appeared on the scene for a second time with the CD "The Autumn Band" At parts that was a fantastic album, "Massösen" and "Life is just another day" belongs to the very best of their work, but it was also an album that included many different styles of music, that made the whole affair a bit confusing about which direction they wanted to go!?

The answer is the CD I have in my hand right now, and it's very clear, they wanted to go progressive! This very ambitious work with three long suites start where "Höstbris" left us. The record is named 20:12 (for the length of each suite, but also for the year it was written)and the three keymembers Gert Magnusson, Kenneth Halvarsson and Jan Warnqvist are responsible for one suite each.

The first part is "Glimpses of a Lifetime" written by Gert Magnusson, who seems to be the progressive mind of the three songwriters, as you can hear references and influences from "Pink Floyd" in both the music and the lyrics. As usual the fluteplaying is exceptional, but also the guitar part from "William Bellbrandt" shines like a crazy diamond here.

Second part "Demolition Suite" creeps upon you like a massive pumping machine, or an earthquake that shakes the foundations you stand on, with a hint of"Also Sprach Zarathustra" in some way, but this is also the most heavyrocking part of the trilogy, Kenneth Halvarsson, who probably is the "hardrocker" in the band have created a very fateful, but fresh little rockopera on its own inside the whole context. At the end of " Demolition Suite" a sudden breach of softer music appears, like a natural overture to the third and last suite..

Third Part "Suite Avis Fenics" written by the classic trained keyboardplayer "Jan Warnqvist" is a, mostly instrumental, very symphonic piece that makes me think of the late 70s krautrockbands on the "Sky-label" but also Mike Oldfield, it ends the journey in a rather harmonic way that makes one feel that after the "Demolition" Fenix flies into a more colorful world!

To sum up this trip I would say, Before the Storm, The Storm, and After the Storm! I have been through all moods in 20:12.

Peter Wallgren July 2014