SPIN GALLERY - review added 16th November 2009
Album Review: Embrace (2009)
For fans of: Melodic Rock... and talented peoples
Spin Gallery isn't a band as such, more a project with longevity. It started back in 1997 when singer/songwriter Kristoffer Lagerström and producer/songwriter/guitarist Tommy Denander recorded a few demos together. The first album didn't come until 2004, but the seeds were clearly planted as Embrace, their 2nd album, is now seeing the light of day.
Alongside Kristoffer on lead vocals and Tommy on all strings and keys, the release features several well known musicians. The first album featured guests like David Foster, Michael Thompson and Randy Goodrum. Embrace sees singers Dan Reed and Robin Beck handling one song each, Glen Marks on drums throughout, and Marika Willstedt cutting in on cello.
The press release compares the sound to Mr Mister, Toto and Giant's soft rock sound mixed with modern melodic rock, and the deeper material best demonstrated by artists like Peter Gabriel, Sting and Pink Floyd. I would agree with that judgment. This certainly isn't a hard 'n' heavy album. It rocks, but it does so in a more subtle, intelligent fashion. I'd add Balance to the comparisons list. Both the music and Kristoffer's Peppy Castro style vocals ring of this year's release, Equilibrium. I liked that album, although I know a lot of people were less than enamoured by it.
Saying that, it's taken a lot of work for me to get into Embrace. I'm still not totally taken by it. There are flashes of genius, but a lot of it is just too safe for me. I really hated the opening track the first 5 times I heard it but it's grown on me now. There's a definite anthemic feel hidden somewhere beneath the surface. You need a torch and a pair of tweezers to find it, but it's worth the work. 'Stone By Stone' is pleasant too, especially the chorus. It's too subtle and, perhaps a little musically obvious and derivative, but still nice enough.
'Just a Momentary Why' is an upbeat and bloody good demonstration of why Robin Beck is one of the best female singers out there. It's a classic sounding track that instantly makes you feel like you've known it forever. I'm not claiming it's the best track of all time, it's not even the best on this album, but it is jolly splendid anyway. The mellow 'Brilliance of the Drugs' does nothing for me. 'Eyes Wide Open' is a touch better but still nearer nondescript than excellent.
I don't know where 'Blood In My Veins' came from but it's utterly, intriguingly, superb. It isn't rock - more effeminate acoustic chill-out - but I totally love it and it deserves serious chart action. It sounds achingly familiar. The closest I can get is Roberta Flack, but I know that isn't right... 'You Do The Things You Do' with Dan Reed is good and upbeat. It isn't exceptional, but it's very listenable to. I swear Dan Reed sounds like Grease-era Franky Valli though!
'Indulge' retreads ground the album has already covered. 'Without Love' is better but still nowhere near the album's highs. 'Tic Toc' is as smooth as a bar of creamy chocolate wearing a Teflon tuxedo. It's jazz cool, rock hip and pop sexy. Possibly. It's certainly a pleasant listen however you look at it. 'Everything Fades' is poppy and fun. Final track 'The End' is a technically accomplished song that doesn't do a lot for me. Shame, some of the playing is exceptional.
Spin Gallery's 2nd album is a complete mixed bag. On one hand you've got great tracks like 'Just a Momentary Why' and the exceptional 'Blood In My Veins'. On the other there are tracks that make me want to catch some ZZZ's. Somewhere in the middle, on the third hand if you happen to have one, there's a good batch of solid if unexceptional efforts. Embrace is an interesting album that hints at brilliance but, as an overall entity, is someway short. More like track 6 next time please!
Check out... 'Blood In My Veins', as if you needed to ask.
CD Track List:
01. Embrace
02. Stone By Stone
03. Just a Momentary Why (feat. Robin Beck)
04. Brilliance of the Drugs
05. Eyes Wide Open
06. Blood In My Veins
07. You Do The Things You Do (feat. Dan Reed)
08. Indulge
09. Without Love
10. Tic Toc
11. Everything Fades
12. The End
Label: Frontiers Records
