Zello - Quodlibet - 1999
intro
I have to recognize that the only information that I had before to buy this cd is that it was a Swedish group... and for the first time this only fact had been enough to convince me of its purchase. I also have to recognize that I have listened something completely different to what I waited … and this is very good for me, because I won't never have prejudices about unknown albums, because this music has been very pleasant for me.
review
What Zello show us in this cd is a music with a lot of dynamics and character that is influenced by the structures and sounds of the elaborated tracks of the first Kansas, without the peculiar American sound. The structure and the textures of their compositions, the violin and the main voice accentuates this fact notably. The band is formed by: Anders Alzarfeldt (keyboards), Lennart Glenberg-Eriksson (violin), Danne Lindell (bass), Svetlan Raket (drums) and P-OR Saether (voice). I think that the last one is the leader of the band because the major part of the music and lyrics were composed by him.
When you listen this album for the first time, you can find a guitar that is reminiscent of the Kansas sound, but in the following auditions this sensation disappears due to the tremendous interpretation of these very great instrumentalists.
The cd begins with "I Will Be The Wind" (6:53) and "Flag of Convenience" (10:10), two song full of energy with a sound very well constructed. They are tracks that you will like because they are full of speed and that they are perfect to play live. These tracks sound like Kansas with European influences. They are followed by the suite "Zwecia" (25:29), where they concentrate more the essence of the group with a sound more personal and complex. It is a genuine progressive piece with very good instrumental developments and careful arrangements. To conclude, a track that finishes very well this CD: "Anthem of The Long Forgotten Loss" (8:22), where they mix sweetest moments with musical power again. In all of these song we can listed the superb rhythmic section and the interplay between the keyboards and the violin that show us very dynamic and elaborated sounds.
Among the four long themes there are inserted three very relaxed and delicate ones that hardly surpass the minute (they don't have more time to play!). These songs have the function of disconnecting of the previous long pieces and to prepare the listener for the following one, like the lemon sherbets that are served in the banquets between plate and plate.
Apparently this it is not the first album by the band and I ignore the differences between this "Quodlibet" and their first work, although I think that have been changes in the members of the band. I don't find this album as an end, although a beginning of a new and explorative music.
conclusion
In conclusion, one work which is not for sybarites of the current Swedish "gastronomy", but a magnificent album for the lovers of energetic, elegant and sophisticated sound full of dreams, desires and positive energy. I don't mind to say that I enjoy a lot with this album.