Description
+ free RITUAL: Think Like A Mountain CD PROMO (Inside Out music)
The debut self-titled album. This classic Swedish Prog-Rock band went back into the studio to remaster their debut album which was originally released to a European only audience in 1995.
Featuring the strong vocal presence of Kaipa vocalist, Patrik Lundstrom, Ritual creates a swirling tie-dye of progressive music and prides itself on their lavish rhythms and soundscapes
All songs:
Label: Tempus Fugit – TF VÖ 13, Inside Out Music – SPV 80000613 PRCD
Format: CD, Album, Promo, Reissue with a 24 page booklet
Country: Germany
Released: 2004 Remastered by Ritual
Style: Prog Rock
Tracklist:
1 Wingspread 5:48
2 The Way Of Things 3:35
3 Typhoons Decide 5:20
4 A Little More Like Me 5:19
5 Solitary Man 8:12
6 Life Has Just Begun 3:35
7 Dependence Day 4:44
8 Seasong For The Moominpappa 7:36
9 You Can Never Tell 4:48
10 Big Black Secret 6:56
11 Power Place 4:57
Distributed By – SPV GmbH – SPV 085-60522
Barcode: 693723605227
Label Code: 03543
YES – this sounds familiar
I can’t imagine anyone hearing a song off this album not liking the song, but you’d be way off judging this album by just one or two songs. Very canterbury-folky in places, rocks in other places. Some might think the album lacks focus; it is not a theme oriented piece, which in my case is a welcome relief. Some of these songs are downright bouyant. As expected, the musicianship is great, but the heart put into these performances suggest a real enthusiasm and sentiment for the material. I’d recommend this album to any fan of ’70s progressive rock, and of course, it has its Yes-ish moments, but I wouldn’t at all compare this group to other keyboard driven bands like Glass Hammer or Cairo because the use of keyboards are kept in-check by a multitude of acoustic instruments giving this album has a very organic feel, not a over-processed, strident sound like some non-metal prog bands do now-a-days. This album stays in regular rotation and I can see fans of The Flower Kings being very taken with it.
Truly exhilirating songs…dynamic vocals from PL…exquisite arrangements. I bought the CD on the strength of hearing about 30 seconds of “Typhoons Decide”, which is so full of uplifting energy, and discovered so many great songs along side it. I can’t stop playing it, and I defy anyone not to get hooked. They blend pop, folk and rock effortlessly and with originality
Ritual´s debut album is a really excellent album. First of all I would like to point out that Ritual have that special Swedish thing for melodies. Their music is just so beautifully melodic and memorable even though it is pretty intricate. I´ve heard about Ritual before but always assumed they were a metal band with that name and never gave them a chance. But then I bought Kaipa´s comeback album Notes From the Past and saw that Patrik Lundstrom who sings lead vocals on that album, were credited as a member of Ritual. It´s not that I´m a big fan of Kaipa really, but as the all consuming prog head I am I decided to give Ritual a chance. This has been a good decision as I think Ritual is much better than Kaipa.The music is pretty hard to describe as there are elements of many different things on the album. But symphonic folk inspired prog rock wouldn´t be far from the truth. Some songs rock a bit more than others and some have a more folky touch, but there are always surprises and little instrumental parts to keep the songs exciting. Patrik Lundstrom has a very special voice and it is surely an aquired taste. Most of the time I like it, but it can be a bit too much when listening to the whole album from start to end.
The musicians are really fantastic in my ears. They master a variety of musical genres and mix them to great effect.
The production is excellent. Typical Swedish sounding and very clear and full.
This is such a good album and it deserves 4 stars, because of the high level in composition and musical skill. I think Ritual is a very original band and deserves praise for that.
But unlike the music of too many over-earnest modern proggers, Ritual’s debut is an album of rare high spirits, and the group plays with enough energy to support their enthusiasm. That vitality is immediately apparent in the breathless pace of ‘Wingspread’ (especially during the exuberant chorus), continues into the mock-medieval folk tune ‘The Way of Things’, and reaches critical mass in the gleeful shanty ‘Seasong for the Moominpappa’, the first of many songs in their catalogue inspired by the moomintrolls of children’s author Tove Jansson.
Perhaps the band’s low profile is only a matter of limited exposure. Unlike the absurdly prolific Swedish superstars of THE FLOWER KINGS, their recorded output is meager, to say the least: only four studio albums in the last fifteen years (although as I write a new release in finally pending). And so far their only gig on this side of the Atlantic was a one-night stand (actually a one-afternoon stand) at the 6th annual Rites of Spring music festival in May of 2008, making quite a splash and winning a lot of new fans, this reviewer among them.
Clearly this is one bandwagon with plenty of room for more passengers. Hop on at the first stop, and enjoy the ride.
Some of the songs are much closer to folk than anything else, while others just belt along and of course some do both. Patrik’s vocals are very clear, and he is as much at home singing gently in ‘The Way Of Things’ or stretching out when the need is required. That song is a million miles away from ‘Typhoons decide’ which is far more complex and dynamic, with lots of movement between different styles
An album that progheads would do well to seek out. They are very different to the rest of the ‘neo-prog’ crowd and it is always good to hear a band that are trying to take prog into new directions.
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