Swedish band DYNAMO BLISS was formed in 2005, and would spend the following five eyars honing their craft prior to releasing their debut album “21st Century Junk”. A single followed in 2011, and then in 2013 they returned with not one but two full length studio efforts. “Day and Night” is the most recent of these, and as has been the case with all albums by this band so far it was self released in digital format.
When looking up information about this band and their stated influences, the music on this production makes perfect sense. We’re taken on a trip back in time, with the late 1970’s as a more or less defined target, and to the accessible parts of progressive rock as they sounded back then. A breed of music I often refer to as art pop myself, which features bands like Supertramp, ELO, Ambrosia and Alan Parsons Project. To name but a few. The songs are melodic and easy on the ears and the mind, sporting fairly dominant lead vocals of a controlled variety, strong and distinct grooves from the instruments, often with an overall positive and jubilant mood.
Dynamo Bliss doesn’t stick to a mere formula album however. Six of the eleven compositions on “Day and Night” are atmospheric instrumentals with cinematic qualities, and the effective one-two combo of Morning on Mars / Another Sundown and the same relation between High Noon / Dusk is a nice little detail in itself. That two of the other songs are instrumental as well leaves us with a mere 18 minutes of music more or less sticking to the more predictable art pop territories, of which the extremely catchy The Day the Empire Fell is the one making most of an impression with it’s bounce, playful keyboard textures and compact, subtle plucked guitar motif.
The other two songs featuring vocals have more of an emphasis on piano and keyboards driven escapades. The latter of these, Circadian Rhythm, is fairly eccentric in scope as well, a more demanding instance of the art pop song but still maintaining accessible arrangements throughout.
Those with a taste for more challenging fare does get their fill too. Epic length instrumental Night Storm has a neat development, alternating between richly layered melodic sequences and sparsely arranged inserts, the later breaking down and hitting more of a jazz-oriented expression, then briefly switching roles as the richly layered passages are given the jazz-oriented break for a couple of minutes and then switching back again. Still melodic and accessible throughout, but with a subtle but noticeable avant-garde twist if you like.
Accessible, melodic progressive rock of the playful variety with half a foot inside mainstream pop/rock is the foundation Dynamo Bliss operate from on “Day and Night”. With detours into good quality atmospheric fills that tell their own little, instrumental story, and with variations of a somewhat more challenging kind flavoring some of the songs. First and foremost a production that caters to those who love bands such as the ones mentioned initially, but with some nice details that should find favor also among those with a taste for music of a somewhat more challenging nature.
My rating: 82/100
