BLOMLJUD

Just around the time Moon Safari were enjoying the relative success following their debut album, guitarist Anthon Johansson decided to leave the group.From this point the band starts to become a family affair with the addition of Simon Akesson's brother Pondus on guitars and vocals.Moon Safari recorded their sophomore album ''[blomljud]'' in two different studios in two different periods and this was released at the dawn of the spring of 2008 on Blomljud Records.

''A doorway to summer'' showed a band with talent and great songwriting skills and the new Moon Safari album seems like an excellent step forwards.A 2-CD offering, that finds the band more mature with developed composing quality and an incredible capability on instrumental passages and vocal harmonies.Split in short tracks and long epics, highlighted by the 31-min. opus ''Other half of the sky'', ''[blomljud]'' is characterized by its obvious nostalgic flavors of the Symphonic Rock of the 70's, borrowing elements from the music of YES, GENTLE GIANT and GENESIS, transformed into the new age of modern productions and crystal-clear sounds.The music is super-tight Symphonic Rock with pleasant orchestrations, tons of changing climates and an optimistic atmosphere, led by the constant use of analog keyboards and sweet milti-vocal harmonies.Interplays and solos are endless with a dynamic and rich sound followed by salvation, melodic textures filled with acoustic guitars, sensitive solos and delightful moog synthesizers.The majority of the album swirls around the impressive keyboard interludes and piano lines of Simon Akesson, usually offered through double or even triple layers and amazingly blended with a solid rhythm section, more traditional and acoustic sounds and striking electric guitars full of passion.The absolute highlight remains the very long track of the second CD, a superb symphonic-inclined piece of Rock music, that suffers from originality, but creates rare emotions among its technical and indulgent parts of highly complicated musicianship.

A beautiful, very mature and memorable album along the lines of THE FLOWER KINGS or SPOCK'S BEARD.100 minutes of consistent, artistic and sensational Progressive Rock music, that flows easier than the water in the river.Amazing and highly recommended stuff.