STARDUST WE ARE

Flower Kings came with a double album just a year after a regular single CD album. Caution is required. After listening to it a couple of times, I can say that for me, this is the only justified studio double album by Flower Kings. Maybe because they kept recycling ideas and seemed to be doing double albums for self-indulgence rather than a burst of creativity. This release is a masterpiece of modern progressive rock while paying homage to old 70's proggers. The compositions can't compete with the 70's masters most of the time but they compensate over compensate with saturated extremely well executed playing. There are plenty of instrumental appealing moments that make you completely immersed in music. There are more accessible melodic tracks such as "In the eyes of the world" then a bit messy "Just this once" with a Hammond rip-off from the Genesis "Fountain of Salmacis" or a keyboard heavy "Church of your heart" which cements Bodin's position among top prog-rock keyboard players and arrangers. On the second CD, "Stardust we are" is for me the definitive Flower Kings magnum-opus with great Froberg vocals. It is a well written example of a typical symphonic prog and surprisingly one of the few long compositions that don't get too indulgent. Highly recommended be it for the instrumental prowess or overall craftmanship.