SENSORS

At last, a live record from one of my favorite contemporary Swedish progressive rock bands. There was no need for decision for me to buy it or not, but sadly the vinyl did not create as huge impact to me in the way their second and third studio albums did. I believe my own expectations were too high due the previous studio albums - There's nothing wrong here with the music, but also nothing really exceptional either. The songs do not differ much from the studio versions, except the title track being extended, and there is not either anything unreleased material among the songs. So the focus is directed to the performance quality, and though it is not poor, I must admit that the loss of delicate studio recordings and many carefully constructed nuances appear lesser here. My appreciation for the achievements mentioned in the previous sentence is not very small, affecting strongly to my own listening experience of this album.

The played songs are from all of their three albums. The track order is different in my vinyl than in the entry here; The set starts with "Happiness", which is a really powerful starter. Here Petronella's vocal approach is slightly more dramatic and powerful than the more fragile version in the studio album. "Your Misery" is softer but dark song about some unpleasant things of the life. "Gasoline" follows, being a dynamic and great composition with powerful tension creations and releases. Sadly it only works in the studio version so well that I believe it's impossible to reach similar perfection in the stage, the 2004 Rockpalast concert film on "Kallocain" CD confirming this observation. The side A is ended by the song for the child of the couple in the band, being very beautiful indeed.

The B-side of the LP spins forth with the mellow and tender "Hypnotique", being quite favored as a feminine anthem among the song repertoire of the group. It has some quite nice Mellotron keys breathing life to the song, being a great tune for a pretty lady singer. I admit personally enjoying the other compositions more, maybe being more personal than this archetype. I consider "Absinth Minded" as another tune for the black realities of the Life-In-Death. The lyrics work on quite abstract levels, the word play on the title inviting to draw conclusions "Blinded by her, the great misfortune". That can happen on many levels, I believe. "Sensor" ends the vinyl, also being a wonderful song, and giving Huxflux a fine and unlost opportunity to really smash the drums in great way.

I would really wish to see this band on stage, for sake of actual experience, as the preservation of the concerts isn't the same thing than being there. Sadly the group has not yet transported to Finland over the sea, but I'll hope that would happen in the future. From this album, I think delivering that magic via this record did not totally work for me. Instead of this live album I would recommend the studio albums "Kallocain" and "Silence of Another Kind". Based on this album I feel, that this band succeeds better in the studio, really creating something unique there. It is possible that my perception is though wrong, based on this LP, a four song concert DVD along with early radio broadcast concert. It is also shade by enthusiasm on studio works which I realize are hard to be exceeded on stage with new tricks, and pure replication of them seems unworthy. Maybe I grow to understand the dual characteristics of this group later more better, and find balance on my neurosis of comparisons with live concerts and studio recordings.

A Japan-only release (at least the vinyl and the mini-Lp version with two bonus tracks) of Paatos' fall 06 European tour, and so far, the only official live material (outside Kallocain's bonus DVD) available, Sensors takes its title from their debut Timeloss album's opening track by pluralized. With the still unchanged line-up of Kallocain, the group gives us a selection of tracks from their three albums, but insists (a bit understandably) on the debut album, even if they avoid the essential Quits. Unfortunately for completists, none of the bonus debut tracks or the B-side of the single is selected here, but Paatos chose the better tracks from Kallocain and SOAK, but if they got the good version, they will benefit from one "new" track.

Indeed Gasoline and Your Misery (from Kallo) are present early in the concert and are both in excellent shape, while SOAK's Happiness and Shame (as one of the bonus track) are also fine renditions. From Timeloss, the crescendoing Téa is stronger than both its studio versions, while in the spellbinding (but shorter) Hypnotique, Petronella reminds us of Bjork (both in beauty but sonically as well) with haunting washes of trons, but the real gift is an extended Sensor track and now becomes a highlight of the set. One of the main assets of this album is the presence of a long improv (ala Crimson) titled Prologue, two tracks not available anywhere else (so far).

While I wouldn't call Sensors an essential acquisition, it should belong to any fan of the band in its "normal" form, and in its mini-Lp form become a must-have for unconditional fans. While not part of the latter category, I made the extra effort for the special version, and I don't regret it a second and might even consider parting with their second and third albums, due to the impeccable selection of this live album.

"Sensors" is a live album by Swedish progressive rock act Paatos. The album was released through Mellotronen Records in 2007. "Sensors" was recorded live in Karlsruhe (Germany), Paris (France) and Zoetermeer (The Netherlands) in November 2006. So it´s not one cohesive live recording but rather the best versions of the tracks from those three shows. The CD and the vinyl version also feature different tracklists. Well...it´s actually the same 7 tracks but they are shuffled around. While it may sound like an issue, it´s not really that big of a deal, because as a consequence of the sparse audience reactions between tracks, and the even more sparse band interaction with the audience, the silence between some of the tracks aren´t that obvious and doesn´t ruin anything.

The tracklist comprises tracks from all three studio albums, that the band had released up until then: "Timeloss (2002)", "Kallocain (2004)" and "Silence Of Another Kind (2006)". It´s interesting though, that the band have chosen only to include "Your Misery" from "Silence Of Another Kind (2006)", which was their latest studio album release at the time, and three tracks from each of the two predecessors.

The music is female led atmospheric rock with the occasional progressive rock section. Paatos are distinct sounding because they insist on using vintage keyboards/synths and especially the mellotron is a dominant instrument in the soundscape. Piano, guitar, bass and drums are the other instruments most prominent in the band´s sound. This provides Paatos music with a warmth and organic quality that´s greatly charming. Their tracks are for the most part vers/chorus structured but especially the tracks from "Timeloss (2002)" feature progressive structures and ideas. It´s the strong and intense vocal delivery by Petronella Nettermalm (who also plays cello) that´s mostly the center of attention though.

The band are very well playing and their performance here is top notch. Petronella are also at the top of her game and only very rarely is she slightly out of tune. The sound production is well sounding and powerful too, so all in all "Sensors" is a great live recording by Paatos and a 4 star (80%) rating is deserved. I´ll even recommend this over some of the band´s studio output.