LOST AND SO STRANGE IS MY MIND

Possibly my favorite album I heard this year. Nothing super complex here, basically a mix of old school psychedelic/space rock, folk, stoner and classic rock influences. A strong diet of hendrix, zeppelin, floyd, captain beyond, hawkwind, and probably some underground psych influences abound. The vocals are in english and are above average for a prog band, nice crunchy guitar riffing, and the occasional flute passage introduces the folk influences. Break out the bong and let this one works its way into your subconscious.

THE CARPET KNIGHTS are a Psychedelic band from Sweden who have really impressed me with their sound on this their debut. Well crafted songs with excellent vocals, and the flute really adds to what they are trying to accomplish.This is modern sounding and mostly straight forward music that may not appeal to everyone.

"All Be The Same" opens with some fine flute melodies as those vocals come in with a steady beat.This is a fairly straight forward song but it makes me feel good. Lots of flute throughout. Guitar comes in just before the song ends with a raw solo. "No Space To Spare" opens with bass followed by angular guitars and flute. Vocals before a minute. Themes are repeated. Cool track. "Zonked" features some heavy slabs of bass early. Nice. Vocals join in. I like the vocal melodies after 3 minutes as it gets psychedelic on us. "The Mist" puts the focus on the vocals as we get a darker vibe on this one. It gets really intense 3 1/2 minutes in as we get some heaviness, followed by synths and a return of the vocals. "Fool's And Silent Callers" features some abrasive guitar and vocal melodies to open. It settles fairly quickly. This contrast continues. Flute before 4 minutes.

"Sad Soul" has a nice guitar melody as vocals come in. The ending is mesmerizing. "Feel It" has a more powerful sound to it. The title of this album is a line in this song.The guitar before 4 minutes has a real Post-Rock flavour to it as the sound builds to a climax. "Dab Nekan" has a good rhythm to it. Vocal melodies 1 1/2 minutes in and later before 3 minutes. Great sound. "Last Of Many" has a dark sound to it. Vocals come in fairly quickly and the tempo picks up before 1 1/2 minutes. Have to like the angular guitar 2 minutes in and later at 3 1/2 minutes. A dark mood sets in around 4 minutes followed by a blistering guitar solo as drums pound. It settles after 5 minutes as strummed guitar comes in with Fender Rhodes piano. Just a great section. Vocals are back before 7 1/2 minutes as guitar and piano continue. The song gets more sparse as it plays out.

I like it ! It has that Swedish flavour to it that I love, and it's really melodic.

Carpet Knights, was the discovery of the year for me! It came to me by my friend, who bought it by hasard, entering an old school vynil and CD shop. There was a copy of that band describing their own style as psychedelic, stoner and progressive. He tought to himself, well, if I never try to pick anything with hasard, i will always listen to music from the same 'genre'. What a pick it was, hasard rarely bring you something as amazing as the Carpet Knights!

My favourite 'modern' album, for sure. Coming from Sweden, a perfect blend of Stoner-related ambiance and sounds with psychedelic approach, sometime expended to progressive rock. Complex at some moments (especially on drums), peaceful while hard rocking, this is marvelous work. Bringing flute during a nearly-chaotic (in terms of sound more than time structures) moment, seems to be nothing extravagant for these music masters. The vocals are incredibly well-done, perfectly matching with this kind of band.

So, reading what I wrote, you'll think, well, he's just a mindless fan. No, you obviously don't listen to the band, or have listened to it, thinking that. The only weak point would be to me, the lenght of the album, 48,31 minutes, wich is way too-short when you're deep into it.

One, if not the strongest point of the album, the production. Modern, REALLY really professional production, while not having a 'plastic' feeling.

Lost and so Strange is my Mind is recommanded to anyone, from Prog newcomer to the good 'ol dog. 5 stars, without any doubts.