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LOVER'S END

Moon Safari

Symphonic Prog


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Moon Safari Lover's End album cover
3.88 | 457 ratings | 33 reviews | 33% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2010

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Lover's End, Part 1 (6:42)
2. A Kid Called Panic (13:58)
3. Southern Belle (3:46)
4. The World's Best Dreamers (5:48)
5. New York City Summergirl (4:08)
6. Heartland (5:47)
7. Crossed the Rubicon (9:46)
8. Lover's End, Part 2 (1:57)

Total Time 51:52

Line-up / Musicians

- Petter Sandström / lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Pontus Åkesson / acoustic & electric guitars, backing vocals
- Simon Åkesson / lead vocals, piano, organ, Moog, choral & orchestral arrangements
- Sebastian Åkesson / keyboards, backing vocals
- Johan Westerlund / bass, backing vocals
- Tobias Lundgren / drums & percussion, backing vocals

Releases information

CD Blomljud Records ‎- BRCD003 (2010, Europe)
CD Blomljud Records ‎- BRCD003 (2012, US)

Thanks to Rune2000 for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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MOON SAFARI Lover's End ratings distribution


3.88
(457 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(33%)
33%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(34%)
34%
Good, but non-essential (22%)
22%
Collectors/fans only (8%)
8%
Poor. Only for completionists (3%)
3%

MOON SAFARI Lover's End reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by snobb
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
2 stars Excellent vocals harmonies! This band openly learned much from Brian Wilson and Crosby,Stills and Nash! Golden, almost classic melodies, sweet multi layered vocals over electro-pop,scented slightly by symphonic rock.

After first album's listening, it was quite difficult for me just to describe this music. Pop- rock,based on West Coast tradition from late 60-s? But musical part is almost pure electronics. OK, there are very simplistic drums and some guitar sounds, in part acoustic.

Surf-pop for 21 century? Again, almost in every composition you can find some ,often very small, but existing symphonic pop-rock arrangements. OK, not the genre's tag is matter.

Music is catchy and very different from you can usually expect from band, having some relations with progressive rock. And even more - Swedish band, not Italian, what wouldn't be so strange.

Possibly, it's not easy to evaluate such release looking from progressive rock fan's point of view. I am sure this is not my cup of tea, but for everyone interested in this album, I can describe it as extremely melodic multi layered vocals and vintage keyboards based electro-pop with elements of symphonic prog (characteristic for some modern RPI bands). For sure, they listened to synth-pop later Yes albums and bands like Gazpacho.

Not sure who could be really attracted by this release. Really quite original pop album, it is less progressive than Steely Dan or Supertramp. Most real listener is probably Gazpacho fan (with no allergy to old fashioned vocals harmonies from late 60-s).

I am happy I borrowed this album, didn't buy it! Not really so bad, but looks too much out of place on prog rock site.

Review by Tarcisio Moura
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars After Moon Safari´s brilliant second album Blomljud, expectations were high about its follow up. It seems the group decided to concentrate more on their terrific vocal harmonies for this one: in that field they are even more complex and astonishing than ever before. According to another reviewer they have influences from people like Crosby, Stills & Nash and the Beach Boys. With apologies to that person, and bearing the fact that I´m a longtime fan of both bands, I hear nothing like that on Lover´s End. Moon Safari´s new efford is deeply rooted in the european harmony vocal tradition with some strong jazzy overtones on some parts to spice it up. The only track that has some real american taste on it is New York City Summer Girl (the title is self explanatory). Even then, the music here is derived from Rhythm & Blues, not on the country tradition of C.S & N nor on the BB´s california sound of the early 60´s. Not surprisingly, that track is also the least successful in the whole CD. The band is too just european (in a complimentary way, that is).

I can understand some of the criticism they get here on PA: on a superficial level Lover´s End does sound like a sophisticated pop album. However, if you listen more carefully you can hear those great complex arrangements and the symphonic rock roots that were their trademark since the very beginning (70´s Yes in particular). The instrumental parts are just as amazing as (though less original than) their vocal habilities. It is clear that they are then a lot more convincing on their longer numbers than on the short ones, where their instrumental prowness is less obvious. I would like to hear a little more guitar and keyboards solos. Neverthelss, what they bring us here is nothing short of excellency: the two first tracks for exemple are absolute classic stuff and they alone are worth the price fo the CD. The remaining tracks are at least very good, although only the 9 minute Crossed The Rubycon does justice to their potencial as an instrumental band.

Production is top notch. I just loved the use of many vintage sounding keyboards on this record (mellotron, Hammond and mini-moog).

Conclusion: simply excellent! Blomljud was a very hard act to follow, but Lover´s End proved once and for all that Moon Safari is one of the best symphonic prog bands to come from Sweden in the new millenium. If you enjoy great melodies and stunning original vocal harmonies plus excellent songwriting and fine playing, then you should not miss this one. I´m really glad they are featured here on PA. Final rating: 4.5 stars.

Review by BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars The first impression of this album is much more favorable to me than that of Blumljud, yet I still am not sure how prog this is, it is more retro (STYX, BEATLES, BEACH BOYS, REO SPEEDWAGON, MANHATTAN TRANSFER, BILLY JOEL, etc.) A very well made album of very nice pop music starting with:

Lovers End, Part 1" makes me think I'm hearing a Styx song from the Grand Illusion era. Like STYX, there are moments of proggieness, but mostly it's radio rock. Very nice song.

"A Kid Called Panic" has a bit of early YES feel until the REO SPEEDWAGON singing and lyrics come in. My favorite song on the album.

"Southern Belle" is a step up from "Constant Bloom" in that the harmonies are much more distinctive and I like the recording effects. "The World's Best Dreamers" encroaches on some 80s sounds and effects but retains a very standard pop rock beat and structure.

"New York City Summer Girl" sounds like a MANHATTAN TRANSFER vocal escapade played with a band that might do ALLMAN BROTHERS and early BILLY JOEL covers.

"Heartland" is a neo-prog song on the level of 1978 REO SPEEDWAGON.

"Crossed the Rubicon" is another resurrected REO song. Nice vocal construct and pleasant enough song, but, prog?

"Lover's End, Part II"'s lead singer has a very JOHN LENNON quality, the music sounds like a cross between SUPERTRAMP and some very late BEATLES, and the MANHATAN TRANSFER-like bvox all together making this song very pleasant and catchy/poppy, but progressive?

How should one rate good music, well conceived, recorded, performed and produced, yet which sounds far more mainstream, poppish than progressive rock. Where and Why do the MUSEs, U2s, CUREs, DOVES, MANNINGs, DREDGs, COLDPLAYs, etc., etc. fit into this website's ratings system? This is a very good album with some truly amazing songs and performances. BUT, it is, IMHO, not "progressive rock" and should/could gain a radio/pop following with the right kind of PR/marketing.

Review by Ivan_Melgar_M
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
2 stars Nice and nothing more

Some days ago I read a couple of ravishing reviews of this album, so immediately got it, and really was disappointed, not that the album is bad, because is pretty decent, but I found it unimaginative and anodyne.

Bands like MOON SAFARI place me in a problem, if I start to analyse the music by it's elements, there's not a single flaw. The performances are close to the status of brilliance, the arrangements are amazing, it's as pompous and musically strong as any of the best representatives of the genre, but once you put everything together, something's missing, the sound is empty, lack of personality and the classical Progressive Symphonic sound gets diluted into some sort of Pomp Pop.

It's my impression that YES and GLASS HAMMER have strongly influenced MOON SAFARI in the composition of "Lovers's End" and THE BEACH BOYS in the vocal harmonies, but no matter how good the work is, they lack the magic of the bands that inspired them, the choirs are impeccable but say nothing to me.

Rock is a risky business, you need strength, blend of sounds styles, and if you try to make Prog Rock, you also need to be extremely adventurous, nothing of this was can be perceived in "Lover's End", the album is too aseptic, clean, neat, polished but absolutely lacks of adventure and risk, as if they had taken the safe path always.

I normally review the albums song by song, but to be honest I couldn't find a single memorable track, all are good and well performed but with no depth.

My first intention was to rate "Lover's End" with three stars because it's well played and the music is nice, but being that I have rated albums like "Acquiring the Taste" by GENTLE GIANT and the strong ELP debut with three stars, I can't give this rating to a good but non- transcendental release, so have to go with two stars.

And I'm truly sorry of this low rating, because I like the music, but the album sounded empty to me, so just bought a copy of [Blomljud] that I will receive in the next days, expecting the same sound but also originality and depth.

Review by TheGazzardian
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars This album is very difficult for me to judge. I am a huge fan of Moon Safari, most on the backs of their seminal double album Blomljud although I have quite a soft spot for their debut as well. So I followed the development of this album on their Facebook page for the last few months, carefully avoiding any samples so that it would be fresh when I heard it. I pre- ordered a signed copy from the band as soon as they made them available.

Somehow, others seemed to get their hands on the album much faster than me, and by the time my copy arrived, the good reviews had been coming in for about a week and it was PA's top album of the day. So I had to be very careful, on the first listen, to keep my expectations reasonable, especially knowing how biased the first reviews of albums usually end up being on this site.

When I finally got to the music, well, it confused me more than anything. Perhaps it's because I listened to this CD for the first time in the midst of November, with fresh snow all over the ground, or perhaps it's because I had recently been in Disneyworld, where Christmas has apparently already started (despite the sunny weather), or perhaps it's even the deep red on the cover where their previous albums have been yellow, but something about this album sounded Christmas-y to me. Which is weird, because Moon Safari are famous for their summery sounding music. For the first three songs, I was scratching my head, trying to figure out if I was insane, but by the time "The World's Best Dreamers" came on, I was absolutely convinced. Those high, descending piano notes, combined with the vocals, just sound carol-like to me - as do the vocals in Southern Belle, for that matter.

The other thing that struck me was a bit more Beatles-isms in this album. Lovers End, Part 1., references Across The Universe when they change the chorus of "You couldn't change my world" to "Nothing's going to change my world", and Lovers End Part II always hits me as being the closest thing to the Beatles that Moon Safari has ever done.

Beyond that, the music here is composed of the same things that made me love Blomljud originally: the beautiful choral vocals, the catchy melodies, the upbeat music. Yet somehow, none of the individual songs on this album strike me with quite the strength of their best work from their first two albums. In an odd way, it almost seems like Moon Safari has found a place that they feel comfortable, like they are not reaching as far as they did with their first two albums. Now they know what their sound is, what their fans like, and they're happy to give us more of it. Yes, the music has a bit more darkness to it than their previous two (which doesn't mean a lot, these guys are so sunny!), and it feels more like Christmas than Summer, but I can't say that I feel like it adds much more to the bands repertoire. (Not that I think a band should be changing their sound completely each album - think about Yes and Genesis in the '80s ;)

That aside, this album is still immensely listenable, if you are a fan of extra-melodic upbeat music with a bit of a pop bent. I constantly have the music from this album stuck in my head, it energises me, and I've listened to this album in the last week more than any other album in the last few months. Really, one can't fault Moon Safari for sticking to this sound, when it sounds so damn good.

Review by Marty McFly
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
5 stars It's beautiful, simply beautiful. In fact, this is everything what this album, this band, their purpose is to create pleasant, uplifting, positive music, maybe because there is a lot of pain in this world, maybe because there is already too much pain and fear in this world. Well, having intention to make something in a way that they want isn't usually enough. You have to have skills and will to do it and musicianship, composing skills, writing of according lyrics, that's something that Moon Safari guys (now 6 of them) have.

It's a band of my interest, I've tried to gather as much information as I could, talk with (mostly Tobias, drummer) guys a little bit and also spread the word amongst my friends. It sounds like I'm religion talker, the one who rings your bell and is standing in front of your house, but nothing like that - or perhaps Moon Safari's music is like that, promise of beauty, only without side effects of being in believing group/sect, or worshiping someone. You just listen this music and smiles. If you want, if not, you just go away. There are people like that.

This won't fit everyone. As I know from my personal experience, as you can see from other reviews, some people dislike this kind of music, while others are too demanding on originality aspect. Well, after all, what's originality, that's tough question. For me, Lover's End has a soul. I can identify, I can hum (and remember, which is not so usual for me) every song there, each of them is special, while of course, I have the most favourite one which I listen most. It's A Kid Called Panic with its powerful riff, "Methuselah's Children" reminding structure (and melody).

Multi-layered instruments, old, thick and vintage feeling (Mellotron, oh yeah), equally multiple vocals (strangely, all guys here have beautiful voices, which is very unsual), this can apply to other two albums as well. Well, casual fans are happy, Prog fans are happy, because there Moon Safari are currently (for me, I'm too young to be expert, yet I hope my voice counts) one of the leaders in Symphonic Prog department, I'm happy (which is important for me, obviously).

I'm atheist. They say that we like to doubt. I once heard that Jews does that too, but don't know too much about this. Yet I don't doubt this music. It simply works and believe me, I don't like shallow, hollow and empty music. This is as complex as this kind of music can go, while staying accessible. And I again have to state that being accessible, or pleasant, or melodic isn't a crime. Doing (oh well, Marty's rant against this band starts again) Asia- type of music is equally also acc-ple&mel for some, but for me, it's something completely different. These attributes are raised to highest level here. Of course, Univers Zero makes terrific music and compared to them, Moon Safari are less complex. But it would be comparison of apples and pears, wouldn't it ?

I mean that you can doubt about everything and if you'll doubt long enough, you can convince yourself about virtually everything. Even about stupidity of this music. But why would someone do such a thing, when he can just enjoy this, be pleased (as I said, I demand quality, I demand certain elements that I want in my music, it has to caugh my attention, attract me and I have to want to listen to it, there has to be some kind of appealing factor, possibly to make me listen to it more, to want to listen to it more and more (and more) - it is there).

Some complains as well, but nothing major. I don't like use of word "chick" in their longest track. It simply doesn't suit me there, even it makes interesting contrast, creating world of possibilities our hero has and what he wants (and cannot get).

5(-), not as good as Blomljud (because it's shorter), but even I've tried (really tried) to be fair and somehow make rate of objectivity/subjectivity as well as possible, I cannot find flaws in it.

Review by Bonnek
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
2 stars Admitted, I dislike melodious pop music, that's why I listen to progressive music, preferably to the crispy and crunchy type, the kind with a bite, even if its first taste may be bitter, dull or uneasy. But everyone needs a bit of light music once in a while, so why not this highly acclaimed album from Moon Safari, a band that created quite a bit of buzz.

Lover's End is an album that mostly consists of melodious pop music, with harmonic singing that gets them compared to the Beach Boys. But in my ears it rather sounds like Take That or other boys-bands. It's not just because of the vocal harmonies but also due to the synthetic production and the over-romantic choruses. Of course, there's a significant difference with regular boy bands, they play their music themselves and that they have a bee-buzzing synthesizer in the band. I really can't imagine how such songs could remain interesting for more then a couple of listens. Anyway, if you don't mind nice mainstream pop songs you can sure add an extra star to my rating.

A next thing that bothers me is the ultra-slick sound. It's clean, sterile and clinical in my ears, as if it was fabricated by a computer program. Everything is so meticulously spotless and perfect that it becomes entirely dull and lifeless. There's no room in this music for anything spontaneous, it's all prefab sounds and formulaic songwriting. Still, it's done with skill so if you don't mind very clear-cut streamlined songwriting you might add another star to my rating.

The 13 minute A Kid Called Panic and the 10 minute Crossed the Rubicon are the tracks that have to provide the Prog credibility here but they fail. Both are extended Christmas carols that sound like they were discarded from Yes's Tormato. They are the better tracks here but it remains too predictable, cliché and mellow for me. But if you don't share similar preoccupations with originality, you might like this album more then I do.

On the whole, it bugs me how tame this album is: romantic piano ballads, plastic sounds, prescribed songwriting, carefully applied pop-harmony singing,... There's no natural emotion, no creativity, no excitement. It's all done with skill but it's like a gilded cage with nothing inside. And it sounds so light and stale, like bubblegum Prog that's been chewed by someone else before. No thanks.

There's a whole lot of 'if's in this review and if their all ring 'true' to you then you will obviously like this album more then I do. Not even 'nice' for me. Probably one star, can't make up my mind on that yet.

Review by m2thek
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Moon Safari's late 2010 release Lover's End will always hold a special place in my heart. It came to me at a very emotional time in my life, and helped me through when I needed it most. The music here is absolutely wonderful, but I think my personal ties to it create a bias, and it won't resonate as much with most listeners. Regardless of how much this album will hit you, it's melodies and harmonies are great, and are definitely worth listening to.

Lover's End is a concept album that loosely follows the stages that an unnamed character goes through after a breakup. This album came out as my first relationship, one that lasted over two years, was coming to an end. As soon as the first song started, I felt instantly at home. Every single line was something that had crossed my mind dozens of times. Even though listening to Lover's End made me sadder, I couldn't stop listening. It was so nice to have something that let me know I wasn't the only one feeling like I was. The album in its entirety perfectly captures the essence of the end of love, in a way that I don't think any other piece of media can come close to. Like myself currently, the end of the album ends with our character being almost as bad as when he started, but at least looking up.

Lover's End is at its best when one or more of the Swedish men are singing. Each of the band members has a wonderful voice, and there is a nice range between all of them. The melodies found here are very lyrical, catchy, and emotional, and can bring you to both extreme highs and lows. It's rare to find just one of the members singing, and it's clear that crafting vocal harmonies is Moon Safari's specialty. They are in full effect here, and are a joy to listen to, whether they're singing in unison, or creating a more polyphonic texture with their voices. The lyrics themselves are very good, with lines in the opener like "No she couldn't change my world" being flipped to "Only you could change my world" in the following, just as the character is flip flopping between his emotions. Each line reveals a little more of the emotions the character is going through, and are incredibly believable. While the lyrics are usually sung in an upbeat manner, if you really sit down and listen they can sure get to you.

While the lyrics of Lover's End are very sad, the music works counteractive to them, as this is one of the happiest sounding albums you could come across. Since briefly listening to the band's previous album, Blomljud, the music sounds characteristically like Moon Safari. The sound can be described as very bright and consonant, with a lot of piano and Moog led passages that really hit the spot. The breaks between vocal passages usually see instruments sticking to repeating and varying the vocal melodies, but there are a few longer instrumental sections where the band explores more adventurous material. Specifically, those found in A Kid Called Panic, and Crossed the Rubicon, the album's two longest songs, are excellent, and make you wish there were more of them.

Although the music is led by vocal passages and single part melodies, the music is complex enough that it doesn't get boring on repeated listens. Every time that I think I've had enough of it (over 20 times through), I'll give it another try, and it grabs me and pulls me in just as much as my first listen. There's some neat stuff going on in the bass section, and the vocal harmonies themselves can get pretty complex that it'll take a few listens to figure out. Also, the album's length is a very succinct 50 minutes, which leaves you wanting more as soon as it ends.

There's not a lot of bad to be said about Lover's End. More instrumental passages where the music breaks off from the melody would be welcome, but I think that it's a perfect balance as it is. The one thing to be said for people who know they don't like Moon Safari, is that this album will definitely not change your mind on them. Although, it is notable to say that in a genre filled with a myriad of bleak and depressing music, Moon Safari is one of the few bands you can confidently say produce happy prog music.

Lover's End is without a doubt my favorite album of 2010, and even though I'm getting more releases by the week, I don't think anything can top it. That being said, I really don't think this album will effect anyone like it's effected me unless they're in a similar relation to my own. Regardless of how recent your last breakup was, or even if you've never been through an emotional breakup, Lover's End is a great album, and is worth a shot no matter who you are.

Review by Nightfly
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Those who enjoyed Moon Safari's 2008 album Blomljud will easily recognise the band on Lover's End. All the elements of that fine release are still in place; the melodic symphonic prog, the Yes touches and of course the strong emphasis on lush vocal harmonies. Lovers of the darker side of prog can stop reading now.

Lover's End is another fine album from the band where the most important element is a strong melody. Some may find them a bit sugary for their taste and while I like the heavier, darker and more challenging prog bands as much as the next man sometimes easily accessible melodies are just what the doctor ordered. While not straying too far from the formula of Blomljud where Lover's End differs slightly is if it was possible, they seem to be putting an even stronger emphasis on their use of Beach Boys style vocal harmonies. This is sometimes at the expense of instrumental elements, which while present are of secondary importance it would seem. That's not to say it's musically lacking as the lush arrangements of keyboard dominated prog are beautifully executed. They certainly have the chops when required and my only complaint would be that they should make more use of them. A few more moments like A Kid Called Panic or Heartland where they do stretch out a bit more would have been very welcome.

Off putting to some may be the pop elements of some of the melodies, my wife would even like this stuff if she sat down and gave it a chance. There's no denying though the excellence of the vocal work. Only Yes have such a rich melodic vocal touch in prog (that I can think of off the top of my head). Backed by the equally melodic musical flourishes and you have an album as accessible as prog gets that would have appeal to many outside the genre.

Lover's End won't be to everyone's taste here on PA but if you like something on the lighter side, even once in a while then this is a lovely album well worth checking out. While it's not quite the equal of Blomljud, Lover's End is another winner and an album I thoroughly enjoy that requires no effort from the listener. Just sit back and let the rich melodies wash over you.

Review by Rune2000
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars It would have been nearly impossible for Moon Safari to get even more ambitious than what they did on their second album and thus it might not seem too surprising that the band chose a different route for their third release. Lover's End was released towards the end of 2010, almost 2,5 years after the release of their ambitious sophomore record [Blomljud] and showed another significant change in the band's direction. The album featured a slightly softer sound and thus leaving out many of the previously significant progressive elements from the two previous releases. The compositions were shortened down, with only two of the 8 tracks being longer than nine minutes, which made less room for instrumental interludes and fewer sections within each composition.

Does this necessarily mean that Lover's End is a weaker album in terms of its progressiveness? Well, it's not like Moon Safari have completely abandoned their prog tendencies, instead they sharpened their songwriting by not allowing their compositions to overstay their individual welcome. Instead we get a more natural flow of material with each track featuring just enough ideas and execution to allow listeners to enjoy and appreciate the music without being bored by excessive prog sections just for the sake of it. I feel that there is a certain trend among quite a few bands (especially under the Crossover Prog sub-genre) that border on the edge between prog and pop music that often chose to feature certain prog elements just too receive the prog label, which will ensure that prog rock fans will listen to it.

The album's stand-out track is also its most technically ambitious composition titled A Kid Called Panic. This track is a complete bliss from start to finish and features a diverse set of elements that will appeal to fans of pop, art rock and prog rock alike. Other highlights feature the melodically driven Heartland and the beautiful and atmospheric The World's Best Dreamers. I honestly can't think of any disappointing compositions since the shorter track lengths allows even some of the less interesting moments to shine without overstaying their welcome.

If you are a fan of very melodic and harmonic music then Lover's End is definitely an album that you should discover. It's not as ambitious or technical as [Blomljud] but there are just enough progressive moments to make it count as a solid progressive rock album.

***** star songs: A Kid Called Panic (13:57) Heartland (5:47)

**** star songs: Lover's End pt. I (6:43) Southern Belle (3:47) The World's Best Dreamers (5:46) New York City Summergirl (4:08) Crossed The Rubicon (9:46) Lover's End pt. II (1:57)

Review by apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars I've told you before that from now on Moon Safari would have a strong relationship with the Akesson family.In 2009 a third Akesson member joined the band, it was Sebastian, who would contribute on vocals and take over some of the keyboard parts for the upcoming album ''Lover's end''.It was some sort of a biograhical concept on the band's timeline from the early beginnings to the point becoming a well-known Prog band.It was released in 2011 on the band's own Blomljud Records.

More or less you should actually know what to expect from a Moon Safari album, with this effort they come as close as it gets to the NEAL MORSE-linked SPOCK'S BEARD years, so do not expect something original, the two bands sound very similar in stylistical terms, especially when Moon Safari insist on displaying sweet polyphonic harmonies throughout the album.But the band's music is still excellent, ranging from THE BEATLES to the classic sound of YES and GENESIS, despite the ultra-clean production organs and Mellotrons are heavily used in Symphonic/Pop Rock arrangements.You won't find any true epic in this album, ''A Kid called panic'' comes close to the 14-min. mark and all other cuts are less than 10 minutes, showing that the band was heading for a different approach on this album.In fact I think this is the most vocal-dominated effort by Moon Safari thus far and all these harmonies come with multiple voices.The instrumental background though is extremely cohesive to say the least, always melodious and delicate but very far from cheesy or accesible, filled with piano, synths, guitars and, wow, those incredible flute strings.You could accuse the band for becoming a bit pompous and too elegant at times, but dramatic tunes and atmospheres are not absent, there are plenty of great symphonic soundscapes in this work, suitable to all symphomaniacs' tastes.

Moon Safari always produced both sweet/elaborate and dramatic music, this one apparently crosses the line towards the more elegant side of the band.Still a very consistent work of Symphonic Pop/Rock with countless interesting instrumental moments and melodies.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.

Latest members reviews

5 stars An absolutely beautiful masterpiece of modern prog. The first song I heard from Moon Safari was A Kid Called Panic, the second track on this album. I was immediately struck by its theatrical, anthemic nature, and hard-hitting lyrics, accompanied by gorgeous piano riffs and vocal harmonies. Clocking ... (read more)

Report this review (#2571550) | Posted by jasper | Thursday, June 17, 2021 | Review Permanlink

5 stars This is an album that seems to divide reviewers into two camps. I am firmly in the camp that sings the album's praises (in perfect multi part harmony, of course!). We all have our own predilections, of course, but some of the criticisms aimed at this release are unfair and inaccurate. St ... (read more)

Report this review (#1076594) | Posted by Nrwhmr | Thursday, November 14, 2013 | Review Permanlink

5 stars The third album from Moon Safari offers up a familiar sound for those aquainted with the band, but is still a bit of a departure from their second effort "Blomljud". Moon Safaris sound is one of catchy, almost pop-like melodies, finely crafted into a progressive framework. They make use of a ... (read more)

Report this review (#892222) | Posted by Malex | Sunday, January 13, 2013 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Lover's End (Another Brilliant Moon Safari Masterpiece): "One man's meat is another man's poison." In regards to the Lover's End release by Moon Safari (including the recent addition of the new epic Lover's End III) I offer this warning. For those progressive rockers who prefer their music to soun ... (read more)

Report this review (#818577) | Posted by dhsuhaka | Tuesday, September 11, 2012 | Review Permanlink

5 stars An Amazing Album I have been searching a long time for a sound that I can really relate to and truly enjoy. I have recently come across some great bands, including Magic Pie, Karmakanic and Haken, to name but a few. I have also enjoyed the music of Yes, Genesis, Spock's Beard (with Neal Mors ... (read more)

Report this review (#505210) | Posted by Richens | Thursday, August 18, 2011 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Prog Beach Boys !? It works well ! It was a surprise to me when I heard this music for the first time in terms of uniqueness as a progressive rock. They are not like anybody of the classic prog era in 1970's. These guys did not exist in the prog world at that time. Their chorus work is definit ... (read more)

Report this review (#441378) | Posted by Katsuhisa | Sunday, May 1, 2011 | Review Permanlink

4 stars God bless Swedish pop-prog! Moon Safari has done it again. Though not as ambitious as their previous release, Blomljud, it is a more concentrated effort. Musically speaking, the compositions in Lover's End aren't quite as good as those found in Blomljud, but they're still fantastic. My only cr ... (read more)

Report this review (#429883) | Posted by Slaughternalia | Saturday, April 9, 2011 | Review Permanlink

4 stars In my opinion MOON SAFÁRI "Lover's End" it is the best of the 3 albums released to the moment by this Swedish band, a work that in spite of presenting themes quite elaborated doesn't tire the listener. In this disk, however, I could verify a tendency of guitar and keyboard play the same scale, usin ... (read more)

Report this review (#362552) | Posted by maryes | Friday, December 24, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Where do I begin? I guess that it is important to state that it is difficult to post an unbiased review for this album simply because my feelings for the album are very strong. Moon Safari's "Lover's End" is easily the finest album of 2010 and, as such, deserves every bit of the five star rat ... (read more)

Report this review (#357545) | Posted by AFBerk010 | Sunday, December 19, 2010 | Review Permanlink

4 stars "Lover's End"? Well its certainly not bad album or boring. The vocals are definitely beautiful. So whats wrong with "Lover's End"? This album just lacks that feeling of great progressive music. Much of "Lover's End" is just one large melodious ballad. Now don't get me wrong, Moon Safari did put some ... (read more)

Report this review (#349947) | Posted by let prog reign | Saturday, December 11, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars For some, this was a long-awaited release...but not for me, since I'd only learned of Moon Safari this year;) As hard as I tried not to, I went into this expecting Blomljud 2, and I did not get it. Upon a few more listens, though, everything clicked, and there is not a weak track on the album. L ... (read more)

Report this review (#340864) | Posted by oddworld | Thursday, December 2, 2010 | Review Permanlink

2 stars It s clear that the band was much influenced by Beach Boy, Beatles or Yes singing harmonies but I have to say it is a miss. Their voices are actually good; it is just the melodies that appear way too simple or cheesy. There are probably trying to hard. Their vocals harmony even reminds me on t ... (read more)

Report this review (#340321) | Posted by Theriver | Wednesday, December 1, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Every once and a while I get an album that completely captivates me. An album that I feel was made especially for me. An album that touches me deeply to my very soul. Lover's End by Moon Safari is that album. Since I received it, I have continued to play it constantly, and I am still playing it e ... (read more)

Report this review (#340183) | Posted by natewait | Wednesday, December 1, 2010 | Review Permanlink

2 stars Fans of chocolate only Another fresh release lured me with positive opinions. Fairly nice cover art completed the task. Moon Safari, hailing from Sweden, is another band brought under symphonic prog genre. Well, Moon Safari definitely isn't for me. What a chocolate-box prog is this? That's r ... (read more)

Report this review (#338385) | Posted by bartosso | Monday, November 29, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Ladies and Gentlemen, hold on to your hats, the Boys from the land of prog have done it again! Lover's End showcases, in many ways, the continued development of musical and interpersonal insight between the members of this rock sextet. We are introduced for the first time in this latest additio ... (read more)

Report this review (#334409) | Posted by Ja.Bertram | Thursday, November 25, 2010 | Review Permanlink

4 stars I can sum up my thoughts on this album with one word: Glorious. Absolutely glorious! I've anticipated quite a few albums this year, but many (if not all) have left me feeling very disappointed. Moon Safari announced Lover's End a few months ago, and I've sat with eager anticipation ever sinc ... (read more)

Report this review (#326296) | Posted by sprouticus | Friday, November 19, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars This, oh this is an absolute masterpiece. Moon Safari have managed to come up wtih an even better album after the glorius blomljud. The positive mood is adorned by average lyrics 'again'. But the instrumentation...and vocals... They were the actual elements that made Moon Safari what they were, ... (read more)

Report this review (#326279) | Posted by omardiyejon | Friday, November 19, 2010 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Well, I've heard this album 2 times and I find it very fun, is one of the best album I've heard this year, great job on vocals reminded me of progressive rock bands of AOR, has many elements of Genesis, Yes, Triumvirat, Beatles and Asia, although I prefer progressive rock albums a little more ... (read more)

Report this review (#325837) | Posted by GermanZERO | Thursday, November 18, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Learning by doing. Ok, so Moon Safari is back. Big time! The prog popers from polar bear land does it again with this third album and it's even better than previous albums, actually they are getting better and better. So is there anything stopping these guys? I have no idea... Let's not hope th ... (read more)

Report this review (#325747) | Posted by Speedmouse | Thursday, November 18, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Two years ago I have for the first time listened to an album of this group "Blomljud" and it has very much liked me. It was the present opening, many positive emotions. But "Blomljud" nevertheless very big, it it is heavy to perceive an album at once, therefore I listen to it in parts. And the new ... (read more)

Report this review (#325132) | Posted by Tuskarilla | Thursday, November 18, 2010 | Review Permanlink

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