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Topic ClosedTFK "Sum Of No Evil" Press Release:

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Man Overboard View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: TFK "Sum Of No Evil" Press Release:
    Posted: August 27 2007 at 15:47
First a brief note on the album title and its slightly unusual history, because initially, the new Flower Kings opus was to be entitled simply 'Love'. Main composer and producer Roine Stolt says… "I intended to call the recording just 'Love' until I read with a surprise that The Beatles were releasing a new album with that title, so I guess the universe wasn't big for that much ´love` in one year. So by twisting the idea a bit, I came up with the alternative title The Sum Of No Evil, which sort of equals 'Love'. It also gave us a great platform for using some of Ed Unitsky`s surreal art for the cover, that ´fish-bus` is funny and in tune with the hippie and flower power vibe but yet a bit of surreal Monty Python style too. There are way too many dark serious melodramatic bands out there, we wanted to be the colourful, friendly alternative."


Their latest album, The Sum Of No Evil, is a perfect example of a timeless prog rock release that easily lives up to classics such as Lamb Lies Down On Broadway or Yessongs. Stolt refers to the album as "Flower Kings to the max", explaining: "We wanted to make a real hardcore symphonic rock and prog album. We took away all the pop, the jazz and the experimental or ambient stuff and concentrated on the pure prog that we do best." An apt description of the almost 75 (!) minutes of playing time and the six expansive tracks. "To make all this a real trip for the prog rock fan we have worked in a studio that specializes on 60's &70's vintage recording equipment, plus we used lots of real vintage analogue keyboards, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, Rhodes and grand pianos plus lots of Mini Moog and old tube amplifiers for the guitars," says Stolt.

"Any fan of early 70's prog up until the first UK album should love this album," The Flower Kings mastermind reckons of the effective depth of The Sum Of No Evil. "The trademarks are the melodies, the mix of intricate, busy prog-fusion and grand symphonic pieces. The album has some hints of Stardust We Are and Retropolis perhaps, but also has a lot in common with the two Transatlantic studio albums." The consistency with which The Flower Kings have translated their vision of atmospheric and multi-faceted rock music is unmistakeable. More than ever before, the musicians have relied on their self-imposed "purity law", concentrating entirely on the symphonic and classic prog rock ideas. "I suppose the way I write is the trademark," says Stolt. "I mean, you cannot get away from yourself, I cannot change that much. As usual I had way too much material. I also invited the rest of the band to contribute their songs, but this time they didn't come up with much, they just seemed all very happy working mainly on what I had written, as it was sort of just what we were aiming for, it had all the elements that take us to Flower Kings to the max."

Roine is referring to epic numbers such as the multi-layered 'One More Time' or the accessible, atmospherically dense 'Trading My Soul'. At the centre of the album is the almost 25-minute 'Love Is The Only Answer', an eventful journey through the history of this musical genre, with contemporary arrangements and topical themes with both Stolt and Hasse Fröberg contributing vocals. "As always, my lyrics try to be uplifting, but they also try to understand every angle of human behaviour and portray us as we are: earthbound, yet divine." On the other hand, there's the unusual 'Flight 999 Brimstone Air', an instrumental track contributed by keyboardist Tomas Bodin. "It has quite a weird middle section, where our drummer Zoltan really shines in a sort of solo free-tempo thing, while bassist Jonas Reingold plays an ostinato in a mean atonal kind of Zappa/Crimson style and percussionist Hasse Bruniusson adds all his audio weirdness. Not easy to play, not easy to dance to but we wanna keep the audience on their toes, because that's the spirit of progressive rock."

The discussion about the pure doctrine of prog rock is as old as the genre itself. Starting with King Crimson through Camel to Marillion, it has always been debatable exactly how progressive prog rock should be to deserve its name. For Roine Stolt, guitarist, vocalist and composer with Swedish band, The Flower Kings, all these considerations are unnecessary. Over the years, Stolt has developed his own, unmistakeable songwriting style, a unique signature that leaves no doubt and has found countless fans all over the world. Although the contemporary scene may be developing into a tougher direction, the media demanding innovation and new impulses, The Flower Kings are always at their best when they don't give a damn about supposedly new trends but simply continue to do what they do best, grand vintage style symphonic prog rock and this album proves it, they indeed are the Kings of prog 2007, by a good margin.

Inside Out - Aug. 2007 .


Edited by Man Overboard - August 27 2007 at 15:49
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 27 2007 at 17:07

Business as usual, then. Music to my ears! I doubt it will top Sola Scriptura, but the competition between this and Systematic Chaos for my nr 2 spot of 2007 looks set to be bloody.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 27 2007 at 17:48
No big news here, But every time I read about it, I cream my pants. This time they've even taken away all the POP and Ambient influences. AWRIGHT!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 28 2007 at 22:26
YEAHHHHH
Should be great...
You can serve the Flower King.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 28 2007 at 22:34
Haha, well well well. Seems like I'll have to save that 20 euros quickly. I like the sound of this.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 29 2007 at 12:39
Can't wait for this.  Of course, that's how it is for me with every new Flower Kings album (though I haven't picked up The Road Back Home yet........but it's not really a "new" album).  I kind of liked the jazz and ambient influences on previous albums........but I have no problem with them focusing on their strongest feature........symphonic prog!!!!!





Edited by infandous - August 29 2007 at 12:40
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 29 2007 at 17:55
Originally posted by theBox theBox wrote:

No big news here, But every time I read about it, I cream my pants. This time they've even taken away all the POP and Ambient influences. AWRIGHT!
 
 
dude, gross- can't you just say- "I get really excited?"
 
I can't wait to listen to this album!Tongue



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 10 2007 at 16:00
Was just on amazon and they have a special edition for $22.99 and the regular for $14.99 for preorder.  Hadn't heard about the special edition.  It is a bonus CD.  Wonder what's on it.  Probably extra tracks.  Anyone heard of this?
Biggles was in rehab last Saturday
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 10 2007 at 17:21
I've got a copy of this and it is in rotation at www.progrock.com if you want to tune in and listen to it.

To my ears it is pretty typical TFK with less fiddley bits, so if you like TFK, you will probably like it, if you weren't a fan already, this likely will not convince you to be one.
Best Regards,
Shawn Gordon
President
ProgRock Records
www.progrockrecords.com
www.mindawn.com
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 17 2007 at 12:26
Tracklisting for the bonus disk in special edition: "The River," "Turn The Stone," "Regal Divers," "Love Is" (multimedia video), "Bonusview" (multimedia video).

Not a lot of info, but better than nothing.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 17 2007 at 13:28
The chinese year of The T is complete! First DT, tomorrow a metal band I love (amorphis), next tuesday The Flower Kings! My top three bands release albums.. I got promoted... Yes... Musically, this is the year...Big%20smile
 
Read some reviews of the album in DPRP and they got me even more excited! TFK is the ONLY band ever that hasn't released a bad album, ever. (even DT has).  The closest they came to a weak album was ADAM & EVE, but it still had three or four great songs.... Can't wait for this one!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 17 2007 at 19:05
Originally posted by The T The T wrote:

The chinese year of The T is complete! First DT, tomorrow a metal band I love (amorphis), next tuesday The Flower Kings! My top three bands release albums.. I got promoted... Yes... Musically, this is the year...Big%20smile
 
Read some reviews of the album in DPRP and they got me even more excited! TFK is the ONLY band ever that hasn't released a bad album, ever. (even DT has).  The closest they came to a weak album was ADAM & EVE, but it still had three or four great songs.... Can't wait for this one!


Can't believe one of the DPRP guys gave it 10 out of 10.  They don't dole out 10's very often so it must be good.
Biggles was in rehab last Saturday
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 17 2007 at 20:51
Originally posted by The T The T wrote:

The chinese year of The T is complete! First DT, tomorrow a metal band I love (amorphis), next tuesday The Flower Kings! My top three bands release albums.. I got promoted... Yes... Musically, this is the year...Big%20smile
 
Read some reviews of the album in DPRP and they got me even more excited! TFK is the ONLY band ever that hasn't released a bad album, ever. (even DT has).  The closest they came to a weak album was ADAM & EVE, but it still had three or four great songs.... Can't wait for this one!


I read the DPRP reviews for both The Flower Kings and Riverside...and stoked about both. My favorite record shop is getting the deluxe special edition next Tuesday, so I'll be snaggin' me some of that.

E
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