Sunday, October 30, 2011

Landberk - Lonely Land (Swe 1992b)

Landberk - Lonely Land (Sweden 1992, Progressive Rock)

Formed: Sweden

Members:
* Patric Helje (vocals, guitar),
* Reine Fiske (guitar),
* Stefan Dimle (bass),
* Simon Nordberg (keyboards),
* Jonas Lidholm (drums) 

Related Artists: Morte Macabre
Genres: Progressive Rock, Art Rock

Tracklist:
01. Waltz Of The Dark Riddle
02. The Tree
03. Pray For Me Now
04. Song From Kallsedet
05. No More White Horses
06. You And I
07. Lonely Land

Unlike previous efforts to 'do an English version' (PFM, Kraftwerk), Lonely Land works very well indeed, with Dimle and Nordberg's lyrics translating well, assuming they are straight translations; some of the titles certainly are. Aside from the slightly brighter sound, the album is very similar to Riktigt Äkta, to be honest, although the English lyrics put a different slant on the material for the English-speaker. The other chief difference between the two versions is the excellent cover of T2's No More White Horses, complete with the Mellotron missing from the original. The bonus track on the Riktigt Äkta CD, Tillbaka (a cover, apparently, though I don't know of whom), hasn't been re-recorded, so you really need both of these.
 ~ internet source.
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The first Landberk album for me has great significance for a 'cover song'. Track 5 "No More White Horses" is a cover of Peter Dunton's song which was recorded by T2 in 1970 (Original (Short) version by Please in 1968). Not that this is the only song of note on this album.
On the debut album "Lonely Land" these guys almost openly recreate the sound of the '70s, actively and effectively using such famous (and popular) keyboard instrument as Mellotron (The Keeper of the string samples). A lot of acoustic piano, and some songs feature even accordion.
Cold, Northern music with slow dramatic themes and quite complex arrangements slightly influenced by such bands as Van Der Graaf and PFM. Keyboards play a prominent role here, though often you can hear excellent sad guitar solos.
If you haven't heard the T2 "It'll All Work Out In Boomland" version and want to - Check out the post on this blog (if the link is down I will post it again for you) it has blistering Guitar work from the (then 17 year old) Keith Cross.
Please note this is the English version of "Riktigt Akta" which is their Swedish first album in 1992.
The music here is pretty simple (especially harmonically speaking), it creates a nice, melancholy mood using mellotron, flute, and guitar to good effect. Vocals for the most part are quite laid-back, fitting the slow, plodding mood of the disc. Guitar solos form the only real breaks from the broodingness of the music, and even those are somewhat cold: either chilly acoustic work (a la Robert Fripp's acoustic runs in "Cirkus" from Lizard) or a dirty, tortured tone from the electric guitar. Few specific influences come to mind, though there are definite similarities to early King Crimson, certain Anglagard passages (it's worth noting, though, that Riktigt Akta was released before any Anglagard albums), quieter Anekdoten pieces, and perhaps the more mellow compositions out of 1970s Italy. While I am told that later albums by this band begin to steer closer to pop-prog territory, this is a worthy release for fans of Scandinavian prog that don't mind a lack of harmonic activity.
 ~ by ZaXXoN.
  
Download Links:
Short links:
...and also...

http://flameupload.com/files/BEBJJJXL/Landberk%20-%20Lonely%20Land%20_Swe%201992b_.rar

...and also...

http://www.multiupload.com/QVDZORW7VV
Landberk - Lonely Land (Swe 1992b).rar (114.82 MB)
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