ALBUM REVIEW: Manifesto Of An Alchemist – Roine Stolt’s The Flower King

Journeyman musician Roine Stolt has been there, done that and created the T-shirt when it comes to world of progressive music. Having been band leader to bands like TRANSATLANTIC, AGENTS OF MERCY, KAIPA DC as well as his work with legends like Jon Anderson and the super group THE SEA WITHIN, he has now set his sights on releasing this new album under the title ROINE STOLT’S THE FLOWER KING. Over 70 minutes of new music, the record showcases progressive rock and lush orchestral flourishes he is known for.

Opening instrumental Rain Song sets the scene and takes the listener by the hand guiding them to embrace the music that is about to come. This is a record that doesn’t have a single on it, but is more of a musical journey, one where the listener is invited to be consumed by the overall record. The first full song Lost America delves into the political landscape of Trump’s America, with its jazz inflected bass lines and references to METALLICA (Ride The Lightning), the song isn’t all doom and gloom though, it has a positivity to it that energises the record. Ze Pawns continues with the political slant and has a menacing creep to it with lyrics like “big words in mighty halls/big words bouncing off the walls” merging with the calm vocal lines by Stolt and his lead guitar lines.

Throughout this record there is a sense of experimentation which is a staple of progressive music, there is a feel for jazz within its percussive elements and synth work of its keys. The songs are given room to breathe, where others artists may give credence to making songs over stuffed with ideas, the songs on this collection are each given their space to be showcased and explored to the fullest. No stone is left unturned and each instrument compliments the next with the sonic landscape explored to its potential.

Take for example, 12 minute long masterpiece The Long Road, the very essence of the song is ingrained in its musical journey from beginning to end, each instrument given its time to breath, move with the songs tempo, it feels almost like the band as a whole came together and just jammed and what came out was immediately recorded. Instrumental tracks sit next to these more ambitious tracks, its shows that Roine Stolt has been skilled at this type of music for forty years and doesn’t need to necessarily have the security blanket of vocals on every track. He can showcase his mastery of instruments and give his vocals a rest for a while.

There is even a nursery rhyme style softness to other tracks like Baby Angels with its waltzing, lilting quality. Its acoustic refrains merging with the brittleness of Stolt‘s vocals, it feels like a long lost B-side to a THE BEATLES album. Think of Strawberry Fields Forever and you are half way there. The record overall is almost like a greatest hits collection for Roine Stolt and his years at the coalface of the music he produces.

Rating: 8/10

Manifesto Of An Alchemist is out now via InsideOut Music.