We are going to Sweden once again but this time it will not be melodic hard rock but progressive rock with the project of 'Jonas Lindberg' who is releasing his second album 'Miles From Nowhere' after a first studio recording, 'Pathfinder', which is already from 2016 and which showed all the talent of the Swede. The first album contained long developments and we can say that Jonas has surpassed himself because in 'Miles From Nowhere' he finds three compositions which exceed 10 minutes if we count the eponymous suite of the album which, on its own, counts 25 minutes.
It is with saturated guitar riffs that the album begins with a 'Secret Motive Man' which then deploys a fairly direct rock which brings us back to the major bands of the 70s/80s like 'Genesis' or 'Styx', then, it is with an acoustic introduction that 'Little Man' welcomes us and continues with catchy melodic lines, then with a remarkable central instrumental section offering two very beautiful solos, first of keyboards and then of guitar, in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Make way for almost 16 minutes of 'Summer Queen' which develops a progressive epic which makes me think of the atmospheres of 'Renaissance' in the sung parts with a beautiful vocal performance of 'Jenny Storm' but which also contains very beautiful imaginative instrumental parts and which has a grand finale. Without transition, we attack the second long development 'Oceans of Time' (repeated in Edit version at the end of the album) which continues in this refined and melodic progressive with long inventive instrumental sections bringing this symphonic atmosphere and which offers us a completely addictive refrain making the whole one of the jewels of the album. The catchy instrumental 'Astral Journey' follows in a folk/rock vibe, then, 'Why I'm Here' is a more direct pop/rock song with an endearing new melody. Place now at the main course with the eponymous title of the album composed of 5 parts which each present a different facet and which contain everything that any amateur of progressive can find in this style of music: we is taken on a beautiful musical journey where there is always something going on and the dissecting of the whole would still take up a lot of space in this chronicle but, even better, it is let you discover by yourself this magnificent suite for yourself.
In summary, as you will have understood, 'Jonas Lindberg' offers us a jewel of progressive beautifully interpreted by talented artists and 'Miles From Nowhere' will certainly be a contender for the podium for the best progressive rock album 2022... | |
