DYNAMO BLISS

I really liked this band's first album, "21st Century Junk". As another reviewer mentioned, reference points are early ELO and 10cc. Strong song writing and excellent vocal harmonies.

This album also has excellent song writing, and the performances are top notch. Unfortunately, the production quality is very poor, and significantly inferior to their previous recordings. This album sounds un-mastered or unfinished. Very tinny and thin. It also does not seem particularly progressive, either by definition or genre. These are great art pop songs in the tradition of the aforementioned bands.

This album could be significantly improved by sending it in for a professional mastering, but it would not change it's nature. While I personally really enjoy this record, it is not likely to impress most of the Prog Archives community.

Do you relish to have the new music produced in a carefully-crafted manner? Then just pay attention to DYNAMO BLISS. This Swedish group is able to recreate the exciting retro-sound. Among of main references I could give like traces are: The Beatles, Electric Light Orchestra, Klaatu, Alan Parsons and 10 cc. The harmony vocals have a great deal of importance, drawing emotions and state of mind. The keyboards shine quite often and offer a lot of new perspectives. The guitar playing is amazing, the bass performance and drums are noteworthy too. A delicacy of material keeps better each time you take it in... '21st Century Junk' is an album that's highly enjoyable to listen to. We don't often have the opportunity to encounter such style of high class music. Totally unpretentious yet very effective style. All in all, Dynamo Bliss clearly show their influences but these multi talented guys have enough quality and fresh ideas to come soon with another fantastic album. If the debut CD from these Swedish guys is sooooo good, I wonder what the future might hold for them!

I must admit to having a real soft spot for this group. Their musical influences and ideas really appeal to me and I believe they have huge potential. This is their second album and the band have deliberately gone for a more 'poppy' than progressive sound with this album. According to the band, they are going to release another, more progressively-oriented album later this year.

With the clear influence of the Beatles and ELO as well as a little twist of their own whimsy, the album flows along with catchy hooks and vocal melodies. It doesn't have the same avant garde approach or nostalgic feel of the first album 21st Century Junk, but it has a purposeful and simple songwriting approach that reveals a real flair for melody. There is a sense of experimentation in simple songwriting here, a flexing of musical muscles that are still developing.

I do think that some of the tracks are a little under-developed and could have possibly been fleshed out a bit, but short but wonderful tracks such as 'And Forever' and 'Blue Halos' really show the huge potential of this band. I just wish someone would put them in a bigger and better studio and allow them to get a bit more depth in their production. Some kind of orchestral backing and a little more emphasis on the drums would really ramp things up. Its a good album and worth adding to the collection. Keep an eye on this group. I believe in them!

I am going to be generous with my rating for this one, as I think this band have huge potential for the future and I do think there is more depth to this album than first appears. They have very clear melodic influences via the Beatles and ELO with the vocal influence of the Beach Boys. In modern vocal terms they bear similarities to their countrymen Moon Safari, who are also clearly influenced by Beach Boy-esque harmonies. At times it sounds almost psychedelic. It is, all in all, a charming album. 'Fear of Clouds' is an outstanding song and the rest of the album has a very laid back and sometimes nostalgic feel to it. It's definitely another one of those albums that the more you listen to it the better it gets. There is more to this than meets the eye and I hope to see a new album of even better material in the near-future!

In October 2011, they released a single concept track, more than ten minutes in length, called Circadian Rhythm. It shows clear progression of their talents and, again, is a charming track full of warmth. This is a very likeable band and they deserve a lot more recognition than they currently have. With one killer album, they could certainly break into a wider market, as their countrymen Moon Safari are beginning to. I wish them all the best of luck!

This is a nice album featuring candied songs, sometimes rocking but mostly atmospheric and melancholic. DYNAMO BLISS are a new project from Sweden consisting of three skilled musicans. The influences and references are obvious, one could say retro oriented in some way. 10CC, ELO, Pink Floyd and the Beatles are defining the boundaries, however you will find some prog essence too.

Just to mention the multi-faceted opener Fear Of Clouds which appears like a little symphonic suite. A charming start with excellent polyphonic vocals but soon they switch to a rocking groove which reminds of typical US bands like Poco for example. By and by the song evolves to a tricky one with lush keyboards, synths, mellotron aso. The psychedelic Thin Air is another highlight offering a wonderful relaxed mood based on the accentuated piano and guitar work.

All in all '21st Century Junk' is a solid production, provided with sense of melody and atmosphere - however, die-hard prog enthusiasts should be careful. But if you want to know how bands like The Beatles or 10CC would probably sound today if they were not disbanded, this is a big recommendation ... just hurry up and listen here.