As part of the highly talented new wave of prog rockers, alongside such luminaries such as Steven Wilson, Rickard Sjöblom is one of the more familiar names to emerge into the spotlight in the mid-90s to mid-Noughties. Taking his lead from some of the first major wave of UK prog acts such as YES, Genesis and Marillion, he has consistently put out some highly capable work over almost 20 years, through Beardfish into his own Gungfly project, with this latest opus a continuation of the sterling work he has created previously.
The general issue of this release only has six tracks, but when you bear in mind that the first and final combined almost reach 28 minutes, there is plenty of life included, with the final length reaching around 52 minutes. Starting on the rather aptly named ‘Traveler’, a song that feels like you’re being led on a journey, snatched by the wrist and dragged along with the music and one that I can only imagine would sound absolutely exquisite in a live setting, very much leaving me in mind of catching Steve Hackett, Marillion and other such vital prog cogs in the last few years, with this impression continuing throughout what is a rather engagingly created piece of work.
‘Needy bastard, I’m so sick of you’ is quite the opening line to a song’s lyrics and certainly an attention grabber, a possible reason why ‘Happy Somewhere In Between’ was released prior to the album. There is, if anything, almost a feel of Jethro Tull to the styling and layering which sits exceptionally well with Rickard’s imagination prodding approach to songwriting, as I find myself almost mentally wandering while the music washes over me. Title track ‘Alone Together’ is the most recently released promo song from the album and sits at a good moderation to ‘Happy Somewhere’ with the slightly differing approach being closer to the likes of YES, Emerson, Lake and Palmer or the likes and showcasing both his own breadth of songwriting ability and vocal ability, given the rather more aggressive nature of the backing vocals in it.
Throughout the album, there is the high standard of musicianship that you would expect from someone who has previously firmly cemented his place among the cream of that turn of century wave of prog artists, with his dedication to the older approach of prog certainly in no way feeling aged or dated, but a highly melodic take on a generally softer to the prog genre – the backing vocals of the title track apart – building a mesmerising ebb and flow throughout that builds to a final crescendo at the end of the rather enticing final track ‘On The Shoulders of Giants’, creating a worthy send-off to another album that sits at nothing short of ridiculous in its level of skill. Another fantastic release from a very talented individual.
‘Alone Together’ is released on Friday (4 September). You can get your copy HERE.
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