Artist : Crea

Album : Dwarves & Penguins

Release Date : 29-03-2019

Added : 18-05-2019

'Crea' is a Swedish progressive rock band that I discover only now but which has already thirty years of existence. They are influenced by the progressive currents of the last fifty years and we can here and there to do some parallels with formations like 'Marillion' or 'Pink Floyd', their sounds take us a few decades back with keyboards that are put forward. The short instrumental that debuted the album, 'The March of the Penguins' (rhythmic images very well the title), already shows keyboards sounds close to 'ELP' sonorities, then, change of style, with 'Some of Us' which takes us to a calm title in which 'Peter Gren' brings a nice serenity thanks to his singing that perfectly matches the atmosphere but also has a gift to pass emotions with his guitar in a very beautiful ‘Floydian’ solo at the end of the title. The following titles scroll 'Shattered Vision' and 'Second Thoughts' that make me think of the atmospheres of 'Saga', 'Millenium' is a beautiful melodic ballad without real progressive component, then, with 'The March of the Dwarves' which is an instrumental title, we return to a progressive style made of several parts with a rhythmic frame that once again expresses very well a march, and finally, 'Walk into Bright Lights' and 'Barbarossa' which close the album and which are the longest titles, embark us on neo-progressive with the same references between 'Marillion' and 'Saga'. In summary, the Swedes from 'Crea' are releasing a quality album with some progressive components and 'Dwarves & Penguins' is to be recommended to all those who appreciate the formations of the 70s/80s like 'Pink-Floyd' or 'Genesis’ and those of the 80s/90s like 'Saga' or 'Marillion'...

Line Up / Musicians

Peter Gren (Guitar, Keybords, Vocal), Anders Karlsson (Keybords), Nicke Bjerke (Bass), Sonny Johansson (Drums), Tomas B (Keybords) + Guest : Roland Vocalra (Choirs)