DREAMING OF THE NEW DAWN

This is the fifth and probably the last album by the Finnish, instrumentally oriented psych rock group Hypnomen - and the only album from them I've listened to this far. Sadly my review is also the first one they have ever received here...

'The Darkest Hour' opens the album in a slow, dark ambient mood. Mumbling, background-like vocals are added, and a powerful, brief instrumental burst functions like a chorus. Then some whispers, and we get seamlessly into the next track 'The Oath' which is more rhythmic and melodic, sounding indeed a bit like BO HANSSON, only with a wider instrumentation. Organ gets the leading role, and vibes are a very nice addition. It's so (deliciously) retro-sounding that it could really come from the early seventies.

'Rising Up' is funkier, even horns included. Nice beat but the near absence of psychedelic flavour makes it less interesting to me. 'The Seeker' is a laid-back vocal song with a flavour of American, folky singer-songwriter tradition. The vocals are tender, perhaps slightly colourless but good enough. 'Sadness' is more up-beat track featuring some wordless ("ba-dab-baia") singing. It approaches the atmosphere of Brasilian bossa nova, pretty nice! The whole album seems to be very retro sounding, which is a positive thing to me.

The percussion-oriented 'Earth to Birth' doesn't quite succeed to me, especiallyI don't like the steel pan addition, but on the other hand it widens the spectre the album. 'Starchild' is a light, psychedelic instrumental featuring flute. The slower 'The Dawn Breaking' continues in the dreamy mood, and so does 'Sacred Mountain Revisited', which has almost a spiritual atmosphere in the style of mid- seventies JADE WARRIOR. And finally, bluesy and laid-back 'The New Day' closes the album in a happy mood.

Especially from the prog's point of view this is not a groundbreaking album in any sense, but it's very pleasant for the retro sound, and nearly all of the ten tracks have something to enjoy, if not any of them is really mindblowing. Many various musical styles are melted harmoniously together. I'd like to hear some more by this group.