Flower Kings: Paradox Hotel (Special Edition) (2CD)

The Flower Kings' re-release campaign continues with the 9th album "Paradox Hotel" (the band's fourth studio double album). Originally released in 2006, this is the only studio appearance of drummer Marcus Liliequist. Never before released on vinyl, the album has been remastered and includes additional photo material. "The album has turned out less obsessed with detail; it has rough edges and is not based on quite as complex themes as usual," Stolt says. "We've painted with a thicker brush, so to speak. The melody part, though, is still high, and the whole thing sounds much more dynamic than we're used to." In addition, keyboardist Tomas Bodin and bassist Jonas Reingold were more involved in songwriting than in the past, and even Hasse Froberg contributed a composition this time. The artwork for this theme was created by Andres Valles, an Argentinian friend of the band, and the duality of the world is reflected in the music - with tracks like "Minor Giant Steps" (complex arrangements in the spirit of Yes or King Crimson) or "The Unorthodox Dancing Lesson" (a Zappaesque rhythm monster in 13/8 time) on the one hand and blues rockers with lots of percussion and inspiring solos ("Pioneers Of Aviation") and numbers with real Wurlitzer piano, flutes and female choir on the other.