Review: Dynamo Bliss - Poplar Music (2013)

Artist: Dynamo Bliss
Album: Poplar Music
Year: 2013
Label: Self released

Review: Diego Camargo

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Thoughts: If you have read my previous review of the Swedish band Dynamo Bliss (HERE) you’ll understand a bit more what I think of the Progressive Pop that the band plays. But in resume: I really like it!
In 2013 the band worked really hard and released two albums with new material, this one called Poplar Music (2013) and Day And Night (2013), as I mentioned, already reviewed.

Poplar Music (2013) doesn’t change much from Day And Night (2013), which is obvious when you think they basically recorded both albums together. But that’s a good thing! Their explicit influence of Electric Light Orchestra and The Alan Parsons Project (just to name a few) are still here.

After a short (really short) intro we can hear the first chords of ‘Can You Hear The Sound’ and its upbeat tempo.
But it’s on the ELO influenced track ‘And Forever’ that we can see Dynamo Bliss shining. An amazing song with steel guitars and a damn catchy chorus for you to sing along.

After a weaker track (‘Over The Rolling Hills’) we have another great upbeat ELO kind of track called ‘Blue Halos’.
‘Savage Minds’, the following track, has a melody that reminds me of Utopia around the RA (1977) period.
The Progressive Pop of Dynamo Bliss follows up at full power in the track ‘Panic In Their Eyes’.

By now one will realize that Poplar Music (2013) is more Electric Light Orchestra influenced than Day And Night (2013). This means that the album is a bit less experimental and much more Pop oriented.

Besides the wonderful keyboard solo on ‘Running Out Of Mind’ this track lacks something to make it sparkle, and the weird ending is completely disconnected with the rest of the song.
‘Been Ostracized’ follows the same  pattern but this time with some clever interludes that use different time signatures all along the piece.
The final son on Poplar Music (2013) is ‘In The Country’ and it comes with the banjo as an extra. It is a song with melancholic mood and a great chorus and a fitting ending to the album.

I must confess that even if Poplar Music (2013) is a strong album which will please any fan of Soft Prog band like Electric Light Orchestra, The Alan Parsons Project, Utopia, 10cc and Ambrosia, I think it’s a weaker album that their next effort Day And Night (2013).

But don’t get me wrong here, the Swedish trio Dynamo Bliss is going towards great things, and I’m pretty sure their next albums will prove me right. It’s just that this album doesn’t really shine that much.

Anyway, Poplar Music (2013) is another album that you should definitely listen at least once and enjoy many times if you like it!

The band was included in our Podcast #18 and #27 and you can listen the tracks 'Solemn Undulating Wave' HERE. & 'And Forever' HERE.

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