Kristoffer Gildenlöw
The Rain
GlassVille Records
2016
While both the brothers Gildenlöw (who both used to be active in Pain Of Salvation, one of the few really original and fresh bands that came out of the prog metal scene in recent years) are fairly talented individuals and consummate professional and musicians, it seems that Kristoffer has the more difficult task of going it alone and really following his muse, rather than trying to cater to a growing army of fans that are susceptible to whatever will be put forth in front of them, but without being able to question it. The images (but no words) of a myriad Dream Theater fanboys, come to mind…
At any rate… Kris, who started out as the bassist in POS, but now has left them behind for the better part of a decade, is here performing most instruments (acoustic & electric Guitars, piano, keyboards, bass guitars, double bass, percussion, glockenspiel) and obviously vocals, assisted by Lars Erik Asp of Gaspacho on drums & percussion, Paul Coenradie of Valentine & Aniday on guitars, ex-POS Fredrik Hermansson on more piano & electric piano, Anne Bakker (Blaze Bayley) on violin, viola & more vocals and lastly Maaike Peterse on cello (Kovacs, Ayreon, Kingfisher Sky).
The album, the third I believe in Kristoffer’s career as a solo artist, is a concept about growing older and in particular tackles with the struggles and life of a man with dementia – Alzheimer’s disease… not from a first-hand account, as the artist clarifies, but through filtered down experiences from his community and the media. This doesn’t cheapen the whole experience, as the empathy caused has trickled into a fine concoction of sorrowful and melancholic pieces that really defy categorization to a specific genre, but are hauntingly beautiful. While it’s not too hard to play something “sad”, the ability to really make it heart-achingly beautiful, I think is only reserved for people with a bit of a closer connection to the muse… and I’m guessing that for Kristoffer to follow his, might have been the best thing he ever did.
At any rate… Kris, who started out as the bassist in POS, but now has left them behind for the better part of a decade, is here performing most instruments (acoustic & electric Guitars, piano, keyboards, bass guitars, double bass, percussion, glockenspiel) and obviously vocals, assisted by Lars Erik Asp of Gaspacho on drums & percussion, Paul Coenradie of Valentine & Aniday on guitars, ex-POS Fredrik Hermansson on more piano & electric piano, Anne Bakker (Blaze Bayley) on violin, viola & more vocals and lastly Maaike Peterse on cello (Kovacs, Ayreon, Kingfisher Sky).
The album, the third I believe in Kristoffer’s career as a solo artist, is a concept about growing older and in particular tackles with the struggles and life of a man with dementia – Alzheimer’s disease… not from a first-hand account, as the artist clarifies, but through filtered down experiences from his community and the media. This doesn’t cheapen the whole experience, as the empathy caused has trickled into a fine concoction of sorrowful and melancholic pieces that really defy categorization to a specific genre, but are hauntingly beautiful. While it’s not too hard to play something “sad”, the ability to really make it heart-achingly beautiful, I think is only reserved for people with a bit of a closer connection to the muse… and I’m guessing that for Kristoffer to follow his, might have been the best thing he ever did.