Paradox Hotel (2CD)
Roine Stolt and his Flower Kings have produced another 2CD set packed with prog! "This album is not as focused on detail, it has raw edges and isn't based so much on complex themes as is usually the case" says Stolt. "We painted with a thicker brush, so to speak. However, the melody side is still very strong and the whole thing sounds much more dynamic than we have been in the past". Keyboardist Tomas Bodin and bassist Jonas Reingold were more involved in the songwriting process than in the past and Hasse Froberg has composed a song. Thematically, the record deals with the curiosity of existence and the "Paradox Hotel" is a reference to people's life on Earth. "We are only guests here; we can't take much with us. We check in, we use the hotel bar, pay the bill - you get nothing for free - and then leave again sometime", Stolt explains the concept. "We live for a while, without having any real idea of our purpose".