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Here's a reunion album that will blow you away. This Swedish
prog-band called it a day back in 1981 after 5 albums and now they
are back with number 6 after more than 20 years and they sound as
hungry as ever. Old fans will find themselves right at home and
as soon as the first piece starts playing we are immediately transferred
back to the seventies. Usually reunion albums are a little weak
and just a sentimental copy of the bands previous work. This is
definitely not the case here. This new album is at least as good
as their first two albums, if not better.
(review by Olov Andersson)
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In 1977 this Swedish jazz-rock outfit released the very fine
self-titled debut, an album which, in style, can be placed somewhere
between Brand X and the second Made In Sweden line-up. During the
following years they released three more albums which grew rockier,
simpler and, in my humble opinion, more boring for each album, but
the debut is forever a classic in the progressive fusion genre.
A genre that as time went developed in many directions and where
Wasa Express definitely is among the heavier one's who blend more
rock (and prog) than jazz into the mix, which more broadly is referred
to as "fusion".
So, when they now re-unite (well 2 of the 4 original members anyway),
what do we get? The answer to that, my friends, is nothing less
than a very fine album which sounds pretty much as what could have
been if they had not turned into an (almost) ordinary rock band
and instead developed within the jazz-rock/fusion style. A very
nice surprise! Very nice indeed! Drummer Åke Eriksson still
got it. His punchy yet rolling drumming style is not too far from
Billy Cobham's or Alphonse Mouzon's. And keyboard player Bo Hallgren
is still delivering those nice chord changes on his Fender Rhodes
and the swirling, melodic moog solos is a fine as ever. Kind of
like a Robin Lumley with a Swedish twist. We also get some fine
guest appearances from a couple of guitar and bass players. And
don't be fooled by the title. There's nothing "psychedelic"
(as in late 60's hippie rock bands) about it. It is not very jazzy.
More progrock with some fusion I would say. And there's definitely
no "trance" (as in "trance-techno") here. "Psychedelic
Jazz Trance" is leaning against the later 70's fusion bands
(including there own) but also has a modern touch and it is one
of the more pleasant surprises this year.
(review by Hansi Cross)
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Despite of the high Genesis clone factor, I truly enjoyed the
first album from this 70's sounding Italian outfit. On their debut
album "Ghost" we heard a band who easily was described
as "If Peter Gabriel never left Genesis and if they continued
playing symphonic rock which grown darker as time went by it would
most possibly sounded like this". The Watch was at that point
a true Genesis clone who, shamelessly, borrowed chord changes and
melodies from the aforementioned band. They even took vocal lines
from the "Wind and Wuthering period" and transformed them
into how it could have sounded if they had been written and performed
during the "Foxtrot era". On top of that The Watch has
a flute and tambourine playing lead vocalist who sounds (and feels)
like a young Peter Gabriel. "Ghost" is one of the albums
to which the word "clone" truly applies and, of course,
it could have been a ridiculous and embarrassing fiasco. But it
was not so because these guys do it with 100% love, a vast portion
of talent and for a debut delivered the absolutely best "Genesis
album that Genesis never made". And I, who am not very often
into clone bands, definitely loved it and it was with great interest
I received the follow up named "Vacuum". Would it be a
second clone album? If so, could there possibly any more to "steal"?
Or had they actually managed to draw their music further into something
more of their own? And, if so, would I then like it?
The answer to that is quite interesting. They have now gone from
being a clone to being a band who makes music in the Genesis tradition
and chord changes are no longer identical with how Genesis themselves
wrote. They are in the manor of what Genesis' compositions very
well might have developed into if they had chosen a different direction
and followed a more symphonic line rather than blending their music
with more and more pop elements. And the way in which The Watch
does it is not only interesting, it is also very emotional and definitely
to my liking. It has a considerable amount of dynamic interplay
between punchy majestic pompous parts and enchanting atmospheric
moments moving up and down on an emotional scale ranging from darker
to more light feelings. It is touching and creates an emotional
impact all the way throughout. "Vacuum" is so damn good
that I even doubt that Genesis themselves could manage to do such
a brilliant album even if they decided to reform and again create
symphonic rock music (but it would be very nice to be proven wrong
on that statement!). (review by Hansi Cross)
Download
mp3-sample Nbr. 1 (0.5mb)
Download
mp3-sample Nbr. 2 (1.0mb)
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