|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Get $1 in Amazon MP3 credit with qualifying purchase. Limited to one promotional credit per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Editorial Reviews
Review
Tardigrade is the third album by Simon Says. This progressive rock has a very dated or traditional sound which could be compared to other bands like The Flower Kings, Neal Morse (and his projects), Glass Hammer, and even going as far as to say bands like Camel, Yes, The Who, etc... The musical movements are astounding, especially moments like the intense space overtones in "Suddenly the Rain." Also traditionally, there are a couple of extremely long songs, and a bunch of shorter ones thrown in for good measure.
The keyboards are supremely thick in this recording, as seems common with most neo-prog. It seems like most of what you hear is built upon these keyboard elements, as they take up most of the musical space. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the synthesizer sounds and the organs are particularly good. They fit the music in a way that you would expect from prog rock. The clarity of the mix is spot on, and even the bass with its jaunty, fingered dance has a great tone and provides plenty of foundation for an intriguing jam, or as mentioned earlier, a giant stack of keyboard elements.
In a world dominated by "rhythm guitars," it is fantastic to listen to some music that is more free. At times you will hear funk-inspired percussion with a poppy bassline, dual guitar harmonies, and deep space key synth. The direction of each song is always evolving into something new or moving in other directions as soon as you settle into an idea, so there's no lack of exploration with Tardigrade and the adventure flows smoothly.
About the only complaint you could make is that vocalist Daniel Fäldt's voice seems too plain for this style of music. Still, the vocal performance is near perfect, only seeming to falter a bit here and there. When Fäldt really pushes for a strong, rough vocal note, you can sense the pain in it which creates an awesome dynamic in the song. It actually seems a bit brutal.
You can never have enough progressive rock, and this 74-minute opus is a great addition to the record collection. Simon Says actually succeeds where many bands who try this style fail. When The Flower Kings did this style with The Sum of No Evil, they lost the steam they had with their previous record and ended up making something that sounded more like a typical Flower Kings release (still, gotta love 'em!)... Simon Says, on the other hand, really hit the nail on the head with Tardigrade. It's a great record that delivers every aspect that a prog-head could desire. (8.5/10) --Maelstrom
The keyboards are supremely thick in this recording, as seems common with most neo-prog. It seems like most of what you hear is built upon these keyboard elements, as they take up most of the musical space. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the synthesizer sounds and the organs are particularly good. They fit the music in a way that you would expect from prog rock. The clarity of the mix is spot on, and even the bass with its jaunty, fingered dance has a great tone and provides plenty of foundation for an intriguing jam, or as mentioned earlier, a giant stack of keyboard elements.
In a world dominated by "rhythm guitars," it is fantastic to listen to some music that is more free. At times you will hear funk-inspired percussion with a poppy bassline, dual guitar harmonies, and deep space key synth. The direction of each song is always evolving into something new or moving in other directions as soon as you settle into an idea, so there's no lack of exploration with Tardigrade and the adventure flows smoothly.
About the only complaint you could make is that vocalist Daniel Fäldt's voice seems too plain for this style of music. Still, the vocal performance is near perfect, only seeming to falter a bit here and there. When Fäldt really pushes for a strong, rough vocal note, you can sense the pain in it which creates an awesome dynamic in the song. It actually seems a bit brutal.
You can never have enough progressive rock, and this 74-minute opus is a great addition to the record collection. Simon Says actually succeeds where many bands who try this style fail. When The Flower Kings did this style with The Sum of No Evil, they lost the steam they had with their previous record and ended up making something that sounded more like a typical Flower Kings release (still, gotta love 'em!)... Simon Says, on the other hand, really hit the nail on the head with Tardigrade. It's a great record that delivers every aspect that a prog-head could desire. (8.5/10) --Maelstrom
Product Description
Stockholm in the early 90's was throbbing with prog. Numerous bands played small clubs and pubs in Sweden's capital. Most attention was paid to Anekdoten, Änglagaard and Landberk.
On the fringes of this underground movement there was a less known band called Egg. An unorthodox band: while sounding as harsh and brutal as both VdGG and Crimson, they still struggled to make their melodies as catchy as those of pop tune.
Bass player of Egg at the time was Stefan Renström, who upon joining them immediately had sensed the band's potential. But when Stefan wanted to lead the band in a certain direction, a lot of friction surfaced. Furthermore, his personal life collapsed and Stefan, unhappily, left both the band and Stockholm to form a new outfit.
Around Christmas '93 he made contact with a then very young Daniel Fäldt, singer of experimental band Leifs Hyvel. Things were settled: Simon Says was to be a project with the two of them as the nucleus.
In March '94 Stefan and producer Kenneth Magnusson started planning Simon Says' first album. In August 1995 Ceinwen was released, to mostly positive reviews. A live act was put together and Simon Says looked like they were growing into a band. After a few gigs, however, the project was put on ice Stefan wasn't happy with the way Simon Says sounded and when both he and Daniel moved they suddenly were too far away from each other to be able to continue anyhow. Daniel started studying philosophy, then drifted off to India and the Middle East for two long periods. Meanwhile, Stefan focused on his role as bass player in his other band, Wagnerian space rockers The Moor, with whom he cut Flux in 1996.
So, while Daniel was studying sitar in India, Stefan and The Moor toured Europe with legendary singer/flute and sax player Nik Turner of Hawkwind. Then, in 2001, Stefan felt he had somehow written a new Simon Says album. Guitarist Jonas Hallberg, Stefan's stand-in on bass in The Moor, was recruited, as well as Mattias Jarlhed (from Valinor's Tree) who recorded the drum parts only four days after having been invited to join.
After four weeks Paradise Square was finished and a deal with Galileo records was struck. The album was released in July 2002 and was met by everything between very good and rave reviews. But after eight months of sporadic rehearsals the band was shelved. Again.
Stefan refused to give Simon Says up, though. In spite of a series of domestic problems culminating in a tragic divorce he dedicated every spare second to write and record new music. And so, the band has in the last years contributed to a series of Musea samplers while all the time working on the main project: the one about survival. Tardigrade.
On the fringes of this underground movement there was a less known band called Egg. An unorthodox band: while sounding as harsh and brutal as both VdGG and Crimson, they still struggled to make their melodies as catchy as those of pop tune.
Bass player of Egg at the time was Stefan Renström, who upon joining them immediately had sensed the band's potential. But when Stefan wanted to lead the band in a certain direction, a lot of friction surfaced. Furthermore, his personal life collapsed and Stefan, unhappily, left both the band and Stockholm to form a new outfit.
Around Christmas '93 he made contact with a then very young Daniel Fäldt, singer of experimental band Leifs Hyvel. Things were settled: Simon Says was to be a project with the two of them as the nucleus.
In March '94 Stefan and producer Kenneth Magnusson started planning Simon Says' first album. In August 1995 Ceinwen was released, to mostly positive reviews. A live act was put together and Simon Says looked like they were growing into a band. After a few gigs, however, the project was put on ice Stefan wasn't happy with the way Simon Says sounded and when both he and Daniel moved they suddenly were too far away from each other to be able to continue anyhow. Daniel started studying philosophy, then drifted off to India and the Middle East for two long periods. Meanwhile, Stefan focused on his role as bass player in his other band, Wagnerian space rockers The Moor, with whom he cut Flux in 1996.
So, while Daniel was studying sitar in India, Stefan and The Moor toured Europe with legendary singer/flute and sax player Nik Turner of Hawkwind. Then, in 2001, Stefan felt he had somehow written a new Simon Says album. Guitarist Jonas Hallberg, Stefan's stand-in on bass in The Moor, was recruited, as well as Mattias Jarlhed (from Valinor's Tree) who recorded the drum parts only four days after having been invited to join.
After four weeks Paradise Square was finished and a deal with Galileo records was struck. The album was released in July 2002 and was met by everything between very good and rave reviews. But after eight months of sporadic rehearsals the band was shelved. Again.
Stefan refused to give Simon Says up, though. In spite of a series of domestic problems culminating in a tragic divorce he dedicated every spare second to write and record new music. And so, the band has in the last years contributed to a series of Musea samplers while all the time working on the main project: the one about survival. Tardigrade.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
New prog at best - by Roberto 30-11-08 Roma - Ita,
This review is from: Tardigrade (Audio CD)
Beautiful!!!Tardigrade is one of those cd that I listen again after it has finished.There are echoes of past into a present sound and although sometimes remembers me groups like Genesis , Yes or others prog reference,Tardigrade plays in a special way for every track of album,and this,isn't easy to find today in the new prog music.With Tardigrade Simon Says have done a great musical work with an excellent recording ,and for me,one of the best prog cd of last years!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing!,
This review is from: Tardigrade (Audio CD)
This is a must for the symphonic and neo prog music lovers of the 70's! For those who like Yes, period Relayer and Genesis.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Swedish symphonic prog-rock,
By J.R. Flower King (IND.) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Tardigrade (Audio CD)
Keyboards dominate this C.D. which for me is a good thing! There are passages which remind me of Howe and Squire and yet others, Keith Emerson. The songs grow on you much like Genesis, Yes and ELP did during their early years. The lead singer has a strange voice which may be more suitable for a country western band but after multiple listens, the great musicianship and those keyboards make for a great listen. This is a talented group which I hope will continue to grow.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
So You'd Like to...
SoundUnwound - the personal music encyclopedia
Passionate about music?
Learn more at SoundUnwound, the personal music encyclopedia, or challenge your friends with our music quizzes.
You might be interested in ATTMFK's library
With 32 releases, ATTMFK is a fan of The Beatles
Their library contains 1887 releases from artists including Nine Inch Nails and Nirvana
