01	The Flower King						10:32
	02	Dissonata						10:02
	03	The Magic Circus Of Zeb						07:06
	04	Close Your Eyes						03:12
	05	The Pilgrims Inn						09:20
	06	The Sounds Of Violence						05:41
	07	Hummanizzimo						20:53
	08	Scanning The Greenhouse						03:45

Roine Stolt Guitars, bass, lead vocals & keyboards
Hasse Froberg Lead & backingvocals
Jaime Salazar Drums
Hasse Bruniusson Percussion
Ulf Wallander: Saprano Saxophone


Roine Stolt - The Flower King

Released: 1994/2001
Label: Inside Out Music America
Cat. No.:
Total Time: 69:11


Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, March 2002
You may know Roine Stolt as the leader and guitar player of The Flower Kings, even though he has a rich and storied past in music since the 70's. You may be unaware that he filled important roles with other groups such as Kaipa and Fantasia. Stolt is another one of those legendary guitar maestros that started off playing the bass, which seems to be more common than not in the development of any artist that plays the six-string. His second solo album The Flower King was released in 1994 and was subsequently reissued on Inside Out America in 2001.

Stand out solo albums such as this will separate an artist from all of his contemporaries. Stolt is not only the consummate professional and leader of one of the most successful prog-rock bands in the world; he has the talent and vision to create music that is able to stand on its own merit without any reflection on previous collaborations or projects. That in and of itself is the most difficult thing to overcome when an individual has a vast repertoire to look back upon over a long period of time such as Stolt does. The format he follows with the albums sequence is classic prog-rock. He uses an intelligent combination of instrumentals and vocal tracks along with the expected multi-tiered prog-rock magnum opus as the meat of the recording. "Humanizzimo" runs over twenty minutes and breaks down into six parts. With help from his band mates from TFK he creates a steadfast and unyielding project from start to finish. Instrumental tracks such as "The Sounds of Violence" spotlight Stolt's innate ability to squeeze every ounce of resonance and beauty out of his guitar without uttering a word. Talented players like this man eliminate the need for vocals (even though he has a good voice). The beauty of his craft becomes personified in a note for note interpretation of feelings and a well spring of spontaneous emotions. He not only transcends all preconceived ideas of what the ideal guitar player and musician can be, he defines it.

It's time for the world to take it upon themselves to delve into the history and back catalog of music that Roine Stolt has given us to enjoy, only then will we completely understand his importance and the critical contributions that he has made in regards to the development of a continually evolving and blossoming musical genre. Sitting in the fan's seat for a moment as an enthused listener ... I would like to see him come up with the unexpected the next time he records a solo album. Something like a completely instrumental acoustic recording to show his diversity and ability to cross over to another style seamlessly would be appropriate, and a welcome change. I have no doubt that he can do anything he decides to do and the fan base of TFK will continue to grow and flourish because of his open ended approach to music.





Roine's Equipment List

Gibson Les Paul "Gold Top" 1953 (commonly used in recording sessions for solos because of it's nice tone)
Gibson ES -175 "Cherry Sunburst" 1963 (circa) (commonly used in studio for Rhythm parts, dry percussive, warm sound)
Ibanez Pro Solist "Customized" 1987 ("On stage guitar" because of it's stable tuning & intonation)
Epiphone Sorrento (orange) 1997 (Semi acoustic /electric with P90 pickups)
Fender Precision Bass (sunburst) 1966 (customized with added Jazzbass pickup)
Shergold Bass & 12string electric (Custom) (it's history goes back to the KAIPA days 1976)
Seagull 12-string acoustic
Guild Jumbo acoustic (warm and huge tone, love it)
Ariana Nylon acoustic
Custom -72 Jazzmaster Bass (I built this one myself in school 1972, with Fender Jazz Pickup and Heffner neck)
Digitech GSP 2101 Tube Preamp/Effect processor
Tech 21, 60 W combo amp (from makers of Sans Amp N.Y.C.)
Marshall JTM 45 Tube amp
Marshall 4x12 Vintage cabinet (1960) top
Marshall 4x12 Vintage cabinet (1960) bottom
MosValve Poweramp 2x70W
Vox wha-wha
George Dennis wha-wha
XXL distortion pedal, from Tech 21, N.Y.C.
More about The Flower King:

Track Listing: The Flower King (10:32) / Dissonata (10:02) / The Magic Circus of Zeb (7:06) / Close Your Eyes (3:12) / The Pilgrims Inn (9:20) / The Sounds of Violence (5:41) / Humanizzimo (20:53) A. Twilight Flower - B. The Messenger - C. The Nail - D. Only Human - E. This Is The Night - F. The Flower Of Love / 8. Scanning the Greenhouse (3:45)

Musicians:
Hans Bruniusson - percussion, drums
Ulf Artan Wallander - sax (soprano)
Roine Stolt - guitar (acoustic), bass, percussion, guitar (electric), keyboards, vocals, producer, liner notes, orchestration, cover art, guitar (12 string electric), guitar (12 string acoustic)
Bjorn Engelman - mastering
Dexter Frank Jr. - engineer
Jamie Salazar-drums
Hasse Froberg-lead vocal tracks 1 & 8

Contact:

Website: www.users.wineasy.se/flowerkings
Note: will open new browser window

Email: flowerkings@foxtrot.se

Discography

The Flower King (1994)
The Flower Kings


Back in the World of Adventures (1995)
Retropolis (1996)
Stardust We Are (1997/2000)
Scanning The Greenhouse (comp) (1998)
Edition Limitee Quebec (1998)
only 700 copies!
Unnamed 3-track EP (1998)
given away free at Japanese concerts; incl "She Cared Me A Wooden Heart," "Space Revolver," and "Jupiter Backwords"
Flower Power (1999)
TFK fanclub disc (2000)
free CD exclusive to fanclub members only
Alive On Planet Earth (2000)
Space Revolver (2000)
Space Revolver Special Edition (2CD set) (2000)
The Rainmaker (2001)
The Rainmaker - Special Edition (2001)






REVIEWS
"The Flower King"
FOX CD-011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Lets say it frankly; if you're fans of King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Yes or Genesis, this record is for you! It's real, true, certified progressive in the 70's classic pure tradition. Immediatly, "The Flower King" stands as a masterpiece in the progressive history. It's a real bomb with boomerang effect which propulses you twenty years backwards. It's a concept album with a thousand influences from Hendrix to Larry Carlton not forgetting Jan Akkerman, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Hackett. This masterpiece of symphonic rock really deserves all your attention. A real good wine must be appreciated...
Xavier Chatagnon
Rock&Folk, France/Canada/Benelux


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 10 minute opening track gives the emediate feeling of classic 70's Yes with symphonic arrangements and Steve Howe-like guitar playing. It gives me the chills! and it just continues from here to challenge your senses with long "Red-era" Crimson-esque instrumentals, a 20 minute epic and a few other short contrast pieces to give an overall feel that is both progressively modern and classic. I must say I was more than impressed, I think it is the best album to come out in 1994.
Robert Wolf
Prognosis/Sights&Sounds, USA



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was completely shocked to hear such a great release... This is definetly Roine Stolt's best work ever, even topping his first release Fantasia. I'd like to congratulate him on the brilliance of his work.
Greg Walker
Syn-Phonic/Progfest L.A. USA



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This Swedish guitarist/keyboardist/composer was once the guitar player in the great Swedish band Kaipa. This is his new solo disc and it's an absolute killer! Every once and then you hear a new disc that is truly the equal of the masters of the 70s (Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, et al. ) and this is one such disc! The music is pure symphonic rock with some of the finest guitar work you'll ever hear: Roine is a true master both in terms of playing (guitar AND keys) and in terms of composing! You will never hear this genre of music done better! Period.
Stephen Roberts
ZNR, USA



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I must confess I was completely bewildered after listening to Roine Stolt's "The Flower King", as if I went out of a gigantic amusemet park. ...from Pink Floyd developments ("The Flower King") to King Crimson dissonance ("Dissonata"). A real labyrinth! Is it a perfect record? I asked myself when I listened to it for the 5th time. It's hard to tell but this disc may be compared to the main prog landmarks. It's certainly a main work to possess before the end of the century. Roine Stolt is closing his store but I'll come back tomorrow, for sure. Early in the morning, for I want more and more and more ...
Bruno Versmisse
Harmonie Magazine, France



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He has a marvellous levity of touch on the guitar, a fine strong voice (that comes across very well in English thankfully) and a knowledge of just about every mid-70's classic prog album you care to mention. No-one can doubt the talent on display here. Trust me, this is a great release. The killer blow is the twenty minutes of "Humanizzimo", a tour-de-force that should make most bands green with envy.
Duncan Harris
A little angry, U.K



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, this album is a real hit! The first song, the title track, starts rather quiet with soft guitar sounds, but shortly after this it has a lot of power; fascinating guitar playing, music with an extreme positive, vibrant atmosphere, stylistically near to Genesis of the early Collins-period. Everything culminates in the 21 min. track "Humanizzimo" where Roine shows all his talents. Simply a masterpiece.
Ulrich Lill
Sophisticated Rock Magazine, Germany



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All the songs on this album are very good and varied. They are in fact that good that I have to force myself to push the eject button on my CD player every time I play it. Roine Stolt's guitar and keyboard playing is superb, you will not find the average stereotype playing or sounds on this CD. One other thing to point out is that the singing is very much better than the average prog-rock singer and of course much better than during the days of Kaipa. I truly have surrendered to "The Flower King".
Steven Karlsson
Background Magazine, Holland



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On "The Nail" Stolt's playing varies from pure Howe to Steve Vai at his best plus there's the occasional Jan Akkerman influence to be heard. It's full of surprises and rythm changes the way it should be done! The integration of church organ even goes as far as Yes's "Awaken" on their superb "Going for the one" album. In fact the total sound on this album comes very close to Yes around that particular era although there is more of a rock sound to be found here. "The Flower King" is a very contemporary sounding recording with all the right elements of the haydays of prog thrown in and without being just another boring neo-progressive outfit. This one has to be highly recomended for sound quality and for content and for musicianship. A beaut Roine!
Rock Report, Benelux
Hairless Heart Herald, UK



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the best symphonic rock record I've heard in many a day. It covers everything you could possibly want from such an item. The opening cut has almost hit potential, (almost like Yes in the song "Wonderous Stories") This is my favourite on the CD, it's pure pleasure for 10 minutes! There are 7 more songs to come and Roine is blending different styles. It sounds like Genesis, Yes, King Crimson & Frank Zappa but most of all it sounds like Roine Stolt. Yes, you may have guessed it already, this one is a full score. And if you don't already have, Buy it now!
Ulf Holmberg
Crimson Bulletin, Sweden



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This skillful ensemble centered around guitarist Roine Stolt produces muscular symphonic rock, with emphasis on the latter. Richly layered keyboard parts rarely dominating the solid blues-based guitar work and pounding rythm section. Beeing so well-balanced, it's rather intriguing.
Paul Cairo
Music&Media, Holland



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want to add a CD to your collection without fear of not liking it, well here it is! Plenty powerfull guitars in the Stewe Howe and Jan Akkerman styles with Roine Stolt, giving it some of his own Gibson guitar vocabulary to such degree that on first listen the hairs on the back of your neck stands on end.
Martin Hudson
Wondrous Stories, England



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a matter of fact, Roine Stolts album is one of the greatest progressive albums 1994... Roine have had the intelligence to devote most of the album's time to the instrumental seqences. These sequences, of rarely achieved perfection, celebrate a dazzling symphonism, mixing, as we only thought the Americans were able to do, the best from 70's progressive rock with a sense modernity that never sounds like concession to the current sonic trends. Rather, it's a further step towards timelessness.
Aymeric Leroy
Big Bang, France



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And no lover of Camel can't crack for the track "Close your eyes", a pure piece of Camel magic. This isn't to say that this album isn't original nor interesting, far from it! In fact, it is a splendid masterpiece of guitar maestria and a great album of prog... Roine Stolt's album makes me think of the albums by such famous guitarists as Joe Satriani or Yngwie Mamsteen, but in a progressive vein rather than in a blues or heavy one.
AFR/Acid Dagon,
France



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is totally modern, well-produced prog-rock of the highest level which I can without any doubts recommend. I cannot hear any weak points on this CD. Roine Stolt's guitar playing is outstanding, not because of any high-speed soli but with his very emotional and varied style. Magnificent! Moreover, Roine Stolt is a good vocalist too. For me this is definitely the highlight of '94 and one of the best albums of the 90Ies.
Jurgen Meurer
Empire Magazine, Germany



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roine Stolt, a progressive-rock veteran and former member of the Swedish prog band Kaipa, has really blossomed with his solo effort. He proves himself more than capable of delivering the goods. Stolt handles the vocals very well, and the lyrics are well written, at times delving into New Age spiritualism. The title track has a solid melodic hook that will keep you humming long after this song has ended, and "Hummanizzimo" will hold interest for diehard progressive fans. Clocking in at just under 21 minutes, this song covers enough bases to make you come back again and again.
Peter Renfro
Progression, USA



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is just so much here for the melodic rock lover. It is so emotional and lifts and swells the heart. The first time (of many) that I played it, I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. Roine's guitar playing is strangely similar to Steve Vai's at times, especially with some of the sounds that he manages to coax from it. Originally unavailable in the UK, GFT have had so many requests that they are now stocking it.
Kev Rowland
Feedback, England



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is an extremely strong and varying CD, interesting to symphonic rock fans and to the fans being more rock oriented. The opening song, "The Flower King" (one of the three songs of about ten minutes time and length) gives the key for the rest of the music on this CD; strong guitar playing, melodic vocals and a majestous keyboard sound, with some influence of typical Yes. In the finale,"Scanning The Greenhouse" he shows his love towards Yes music again, whereas Hans Froberg's voice remembers of that of Jon Andesson's and thus this song clearly revives the "ancient Yes days". A perfect finale of this splendid CD that deserves to be a big hit!
Rob Hanemaayer
SI Music, Holland



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Symphonic, prog tinged pop, edgy guitar drenched prog, swirling organ, buzzy synths, toe tappers, power riffing, Roine has filled his CD with all of that and more. The music is quite interesting, tumbling through varities of moods and styles with a warm grace. There are bunches of instrumentals where the band just wails and when Roine and Hans sing, the lyrics are never awkward. It's all so natural sounding. The playing is very good. Naturally, Roine's guitar is prominently featured, but all the other players do interesting work.
Louis Hesselt van Dinter
Music Uncovered, USA



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ive just recieved Stolts CD... It's a great pleasure to hear such marvellous work, mostly for some Yes influence and also because I love Kaipa.
Sergio Lima Nascimento
A Clava, Brasil



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Taking a first look at this record I realized that it was something very special and after hearing a few bars my heart started revolving. Here's plenty of positive vibes shining through,and in more than one way one can draw parallels with the veterans of Yes. There are also influences from Mike Oldfield,Genesis and ELP,but on the other hand this symphonic rock sounds up to date and filled with excellent guitarplaying. One can always dream of hearing Jon Anderson in collaboration with Roine Stolt.
Esbjorn Linden
Eskilstuna Kuriren, Sweden


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The opening track "The Flower King" with it's Yes influences, is an extraordinary example of the musical content of this CD... The six parts of the song "Humanizzimo" is in a perfect balance, realizing an exceptional piece where the melody is king, performed with great perfection... A true masterpiece!
Alberto Manzini
Paperlate, Milano, Italy



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So "The Flower King" has been born, an album in wich Roine is engaged again into compositions of a certain complexity. So, a nice album, played very well, I've got to say. A prog rock not too bombastic, and surely pleasant.
Alberto Nucci
Arlequins, Italy



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Flower King" is a conceptual work which is dedicated to the positive forces. It sounds as a parable or, even more, like a modern fairy-tale. It's obviously dominated by Stolt's guitar work wich he uses in a very powerful way in different soli. The extensive guitar soli are characteristic for his music, not jazzy or to intellectual, but most of the time just "full power". ... it's really nice to listen to something that's not exclusivly head-music.
Canterbury Nachrichten,Germany



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stolt has a symphonic attitude definitively, with Yes like sound and harmonies; a proof of this is the track "The Flower King" itself. A peaceful song praising "love, light and kindness". A philosophy rather akin to Jon Andersson's. The album features many great progressive moments such as the longest suite "Humanizzimo" (20:55), "The Pilgrims Inn" (9:11), and "The Magic Circus Of Zeb" (7:02), two instrumental songs (out of three), both symphonic tracks giving a great importance to music, the main quality of yesterday's prog. If you like symphonic rock and Latimer-like solos, and music wich doesn't give you a headache beeing too complicated, then Roine Stolt is for you.
Francois Angers
Cyclone, Canada



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is a Swede who is surely going to make an impact on the symphonic rock world. The drummer Salazar is superb, innovative and steady as a rock. That can also be said about Stolt himself who handles most of the other instruments. His guitar playing reminds me of Mike Stern, a guitarist that I used to listen to a while back. The vocals has nothing left to desire, Stolt is a great talent that we can be really proud of, having in the symphonic rock world.
Bjorn Lynne
Prognetik, Norway



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An important message to all retro-rock fans! Kaipa is still alive... If you're into monumental symphonic music, blended with Swedish folkmusic, well, don't miss the opportunity to hear The Flower King!
Teddy Jonasson
Wermlands Folkblad, Sweden



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roine Stolt CD album of 1994 "the Flower King" (foxtrot, CD Cat nr: Fox CD 011) and Roine Stolt's The Flower Kings CD Album "Back in the World of Adventures" (Foxtrot, CD Cat nr: Fox CD 016)
The recent arrival on our shores of "Back In The World of Adventures" marks a new chapter in the career of one Roine Stolt. Let us, at least on this occasion, take a ferry across the water to Sweden just to explore a little further the history of this experienced musician. In the days when you could safely venture out in the street and claim you actually liked progressive rock, Mr Stolt, then a bright teenager, played lead guitar with the legenday KAIPA. Attentive readers might just recall that we have reviewed this outfit in a previous issue of "PROGRESS".
KAIPA had always been strong on melody and passionate aboute their music, and could easily match in strength and ability contemporary bands like FOCUS and CAMEL. Twenty years later, Roine Stolt is still very much in his prime and producing better music than ever.

Once again, that very same passion that distinguished his earlier output pours out of every note he plays on his trusted Gibson. To be fair and scrupulous towards this new release it is important to step back to his previous albume "The Flower King", since at the time of its release it somehow manaded to escape your reviewer's net. Moreover, "The Flower King" clearly represented a return to the progressive style that had been the main staple of his early days as a musician, after having spent the '80s scouring other musical avenues.
The fist impact is quite a revelation: the overall mixing and production on these two CDs is professional in the extreme, easily in the big league and second to none. But there are more surprises install for the adventurous listener as Stolt's music plunges deeply into the heart and soul of YES. many other bands, across the world, have found inspirarion in the various facets of this glorious band, but Stolt on "The Flower King" goes straight for the jugular by showing a clear and deep understanding of what actually inspired YES, over the years.
Like the British band, Stolt's music reveals in this all-powerful aspiration to be a driving force of positive power that yields love and kindness. this powerful upsurge of feelings and emotios culminate on this album with the 20-minute suite "Humanizzimo", his personal riposte to "Awaken".
A year later, his new venture became in fact a band project and, once again, the trademarks of his sound are all there to be heard, but the route he has now chosen appears to be slightly more tortuous. "The Flower King" appealed immediately becaouse of its intense melodiousness and sheer musicality. "Back In The World of Adventures", whilst not avoiding melodic immediacy as such, is at times more intense and varied, thus requiring repeated listening sessions.
On this new release the contrasts between darkness and light are far more evident, showing even more than a passing resemblance to the likes of KING CHRIMSON. Stolt certainly knows how to churn our memorable dark, menacing killer riffs, or how to make his guitar sing with extreme beauty and joy. Thus we are treated to over an hour of constant emotional replay sustained by an impeccable band that keeps hammering the music with great passion. Which obviously makes this, and the previous CD, into rare wxamples of progressive rock at its very best. YES fans by now eager to hear a new album by their heroes should, in my view, replenish their appetite by stopping at chez Stolt for a hearty and fulfilling meal of largely YES inspired music. Definitely recommended on all possible counts.
Charles Imperatori
magz Progess