01	Sodium Regale						03:39
	02	What's Going On						13:37
	03	Me And Liz						11:12
	04	Harlem Heat						08:20
	05	My Beautiful Neighbor						02:23
	06	New In The 'Hood						07:18
	07	Blood						05:42
	08	The Ballerina Is Not Getting Closer						01:55
	09	The Last Eagle						05:50
	10	The Final Swig						10:58

Thomas Bodin

Band: Thomas Bodin
CD: Pin-Up Guru
Re: 28.10.02
Label: Inside Out / SPV

Tomas Bodin is not only the keyboardist of the Swedish prog-rock sensations, The Flower Kings, but also an independent composer and instrumentalist-with huge musical experience, humour and a clear vision of his own forms of expression. Pinup Guru is his first solo album and with it he enhances the current prog-rock scene by one very interesting and individual opus. The ten instrumental compositions on the album take the listener on an exciting journey through the long tradition of those rock albums which took their enduring strength from organ and keyboards. Tomas explains, "On Pinup Guru I am orienting myself in a manner to similar to how Emerson Lake & Palmer used to arrange their songs and that means extensive use of my Hammond organ. Yet, at the same time the songs have a very groovy style, for which I mix some of the loops with natural drum parts. The songs also have a very "ambient" flair about them, I suppose you could best compare them with slower Pink Floyd tracks, but with more groove."

His Flower Kings colleagues Jonas Reingold (bass) and Zoltan Csorsz (drums) helped him with the realisation of Pinup Guru. Bodin stresses that the basic idea was, in similar vein to the famous history behind Emerson Lake & Palmer and The Nice, to produce an album as a trio, something which has become quite rare these days. His reason is that "this is actually the classical kind of line up in the history of prog-rock." This is also the reason for the audible difference in the sound of this album and those of Bodin's Flower Kings. "The ideas behind Flower Kings songs are nearly always based on the lyrics or on a guitar part. And because Roine Stolt is such an important part of the band of course anyone can hear the differences between my compositions and the band's. But the passion which you find on Flower Kings' albums can also be found on Pinup Guru."

Principal examples of this are the typical prog rock traditional ?What?s Going On`, a 13:37 minute long track, or 'Harlem Heat', composed in 7/8 rhythm, as well as the final track, ?The Final Swig`, in which Bodin uses some passages of previous songs on the album and packs them cleverly into the overall concept. The keyboard virtuoso is especially fond of two tracks: the 11+ minute long ?Me And Liz` and ?New In The ?Hood`. "?Me And Liz` transforms a very sad period of my life into music. It's about my divorce and the song demonstrates how you can translate deep emotions into a simple arrangement." The song ?New In The ?Hood` is about Bodin's move to an Uppsala suburb in which people of very different cultures live together in a small area. "I think there must be about 80 different languages spoken in my area and of course that influences the culture of my neighbourhood. You can walk around and hear all these different kinds of music coming from the apartment windows. I tried to summarize this strange mixture. It's based on 6/8 time but it's peppered with Arabic, Spanish and Romany music styles. And all in typical prog style, of course."

Conceptually Pinup Guru ("It's a kind of musical diary") summarizes all the events that happened in Bodin's life whilst he was putting the album together: his divorce, moving into a new house, his work with the Flower Kings, working with Reingold and Csorsz-the many journeys. And talking about journeys, after the album's release, Tomas Bodin will be going on tour. Together with his friend and partner Jonas Reingold (who will be adding material from his solo work, Karmakanic), Bodin, Csorsz and a still unnamed guitarist will be performing live on stage at several concerts in the coming year. The definite dates will be published as soon as possible.

So what about the odd title ? The term Pinup Guru is a well-known quote from a Genesis track. Bodin: "When my webmaster saw some facial portraits of me the term ?Pinup Guru` came to mind. I liked it too and decided to use it for my solo album."

TRACKS
Sodium Regale * What?s Going On * Me And Liz * Harlem Heat * My Beautiful Neighbour * New In The ?Hood`* Blood * The Ballerina Is Not Getting Closer * The Last Eagle * The Final Swig


TOMAS BODIN
PINUP GURU
INSIDE OUT MUSIC
14 OKTOBER 2002
www.tomasbodin.com



Pinup Guru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sodium Regale - A very bombastic entrance march

What's Going On ? - A chaotic Emerson-style kind of song. Very odd meters and polyrythmic figures..

Me & Liz - Mrs. Taylor and myself have something in common!!!!! And it ain't Coca Cola

Harlem Heat - At first this was a tribute to the private eyes of the 40ies. Today I am happy to introduce Reverend Mr. Hope and his Hopettes!= Ends up in the mood of= Negro Spiritual.

The day I Saw My Beautiful Neighbour - Say no more but you can hear a heartbeat a'la Floyd

New In The 'Hood - An interesting mix of arabic, african, balkan and perhaps spanish music styles. I would say truely progressive!!!

Bloood! - In order to pronounce this right you need to see Dracula by Francis Ford Coppola. The story is about an ordinary night at the old maternity hospital in Transylvania.

The Ballerina Is Not Getting Closer - One piano one girl and a balletomania in the upper end of Nievski Prospect, St.Petersburg!

The Last Eagle - Let's turn on Discovery Channel. Also introducing Mr Hope playing "The evil Dollhunter" theme. The definition of programme music is taken to level 2.

The Final Swig - The King of Soda is scanning the CD for themes that could be re-cycled. This is also sponsored by Discovery Channel!




Tomas Bodin - Pinup Guru
Inside Out-SPV

By: MuzikMan (Associate Writer)
2002-10-28

Artist: Tomas Bodin (www.theflowerkings.com)
Title: Pinup Guru
Label: Inside Out-SPV (www.insideoutmusic.com)
Genre: Instrumental Progressive Rock

I feel I over use the word interesting, but I cannot help myself. I find a lion's share of the music I listen to, particularly progressive rock, very interesting.

Tomas Bodin gets instant recognition for his talented keyboard adventures with the legendary prog-rock masters from Sweden The Flower Kings. There is much more to his talents than working with that group. On his first solo excursion "Pinup Guru" (taken from a Genesis song), he likens the tracks on this album to where he lives. Bodin said that so many different languages are spoken it is overwhelming. If you walk down the street, you can hear all kinds of music coming out of people's windows-African, Middle-Eastern, just about anything imaginable. So think about walking down a street and every building you pass by has a different culture and music emanating from it. Akin to an experience like that, every track is different on this recording. Although he gets help from his band mates this is nothing like the music he plays with them, so do not expect to hear any of that. Some of this music is quirky and weird, and then a lot of it is very good too. When playing in a prog-rock trio comparable to Emerson, Lake & Palmer that is what you would expect. Bodin readily sites groups like that as a major influence in the way each song was structured. The Hammond organ is the featured instrument, and this is so because of its flexibility and great sound. It has been a favorite of many great keyboard players. The Hammond time tested piece of equipment. Over the last several decades, it has appeared on many well-known albums.

So get yourself ready for several listens of this CD, and prepare for an extreme and multihued musical journey that will require a lot of reflection and afterthought, then subsequent listens. If this kind of thoughtful listening experience is not your cup of tea then I suggest you steer away from this CD and start reaching for more simplistic music. Personally, the more complex and intense the music is the more awestruck and absorbed I become, it is equivalent to a spiritual experience for me.

This must be very satisfying for Bodin. He already has a tremendously successful career with one of the greatest bands in the world. To be able to keep up with that then release an outstanding solo album as well is something to be very proud of. Once you hear this album, I do not think you will disagree that it is an above average effort by an extremely talented musician. This CD is a prog-rock odyssey that will unquestionably capture your imagination and confront your senses.

1. Sodium Regale-3:39
2. What's Going On-13:37
3. Me And Liz-11:12
4. Harlem Heat-8:20
5. My Beautiful Neighbour-2:23
6. New In The -Hood-7:18
7. Blood-5:42
8. The Ballerina I s Not Getting Closer-1:55
9. The Last Eagle-5:50
10. The Final Swig-10:58

Credits:
Tomas Bodin-Keyboards
Jonas Reingold-Bass
Zoltan Csorsz-Drums




progVisions Interviews
The Flower Kings: Tomas Bodin

It must be an interesting point in your career, the release of your second solo CD "Pin-up guru" and the new Flower Kings double album "Unfold the future". Are they released at the same time?
Yeah I think there is about two weeks in between or something like that. But I will say it is the same period of time in a way. I realised it when I got the new Flower Kings fanzine the other day. On the front-page where 4 albums. "Unfold the future" the new Flower Kings, the "Pin-up guru", the Flower Kings "official bootleg" and Jonas Reingold's solo album "Entering the spectra" (bandname: Karma Kanic). So four releases that are Flower Kings related in a couple of weeks. And when I thought about it, it was a sense of impact in one way.

Aren't you afraid that people have to choose which album they will buy?
Well yes and no. I would say yes in a direct sense. You mean people are not millionaires and they have perhaps to choose one album right now. And they would certainly pick the Flower Kings album. But the good thing when it comes to progressive rock that it is not like milk. There is no best date, so you can buy the album a little bit later and you would still enjoy the music. So I think that people who are interested in Flower Kings and Flower Kings related music would buy the Pin-up guru a little bit later.

Back in 1996 you released your first solo effort "An ordinary night in my ordinary life". Personally I think it is a very strong album. And when I listened to it again last weekend I thought I liked it even more then the last two Flower Kings albums. Mainly because of the diversity and the personal and emotional touch the album has. How was the response to that album and what do you think yourself about it now after developing musically for another six years?
The response of "An Ordinary night .." was very good actually. I got very good reviews from very different kind of newspapers. It was everything between Jazz and Hard Rock magazines. Even the Japanese hard-rock magazine Burn was very positive. And I don't understand it because really it has nothing to do with Hard Rock or Jazz. But it must be something in the album that attracts the listener.

At the time I had never ever written songs in this style before. This was the first try, and in that sense it had a sort of innocence in the compositions that I still can enjoy. If I should do "Ordinary day .." one more time today with the experience I have today I would probably been a little more careful in some parts. You know I was recording everything in a hugh rush so to speak. I didn't do things twice. I couldn't say this is not perfect. But this is OK you know. Today I would think I put more time in the recording process.

Is there a special reason that it took 6 years before a new solo album of you is being released?
Well I haven't had any wish for a second solo album. Because there has so much around Flower Kings and I had also composed material for the Flower Kings. Mostly on the "Flower power" album but also on "Space revolver" and "The rainmaker" at least on the limited edition. But on the new album "Unfold the future" I am back perhaps more then ever as composer for the Flower Kings.

What can we expect from your new solo album?
Well I think people who liked the last one will like this one too. I have the same tradition but the difference is that the first one is more symphonic compared to the new one. What I have included in the new one is influences from world music and ambient music. And also I have made this album as a trio concept. I wanted to make a sort of keyboard-keyboard album like ELP did. So I have bass and drums and keys. Some people who like the way Roine is playing the guitar will say "Oh we miss the guitar". But the music wasn't written for any guitar. That was a decision I made very early, that it should be a trio.

Which musicians are participating on the new album?
I use Zoltan Csorsz the new Flower Kings drummer on drums and Jonas Reingold on the bass. And there is a good reason for using both guys. Because they are both very skilled instrumentalists. And when you play in a trio there is more space for letting the instrument burn so to speak. They can do a little bit more and I can tell you that Jonas said to me after the recordings that he had never ever played so well on a CD before. He and Zoltan did a marvellous job on this album.

I hear in An ordinary night .. a lot of classical influences. Are you raised with love for classical music and did you start playing the piano at an early age?
Yeah I start playing the piano when I was 4 years old. Actually the first years I was only learning by ear. And tried just to have fun playing the piano. Later on I started to study classical music and studied the common piano pieces you supposed to play. But I felt that if you wanted to be good in concerto piano you had to play for twelve hours a day and I wasn't prepare to do that. Because I had so much love for the composition part as well. And also I guess that if you want to exceed as a concerto pianist you need to start very early to play classical music if you want to be good. So I gave that up a little bit and also realized that in the progressive rock style you can combine the classical influences with rock and that suited me very fine because I like both styles.

Are you still listening to classical music :
Absolutely I still listen to classical music, I just love it!

: and what are your favourite composers of those days?
I have been very much into Russian composers. Composers like Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Stravinsky. But also I have been searching for a little bit more odd composers like, what's his name : a Polish guy : I think it's Kristofs (?). He makes music for choirs and it is very strange.

Yes, I also love Shostakovich a lot especially the symphonies.
Have you heard the tenth symphony? If you listen to that one you will hear very clear influences on a piece on my CD. There is a song called "Blood" on my new CD and there are very clear influences from Shostakovich. Also on the new Flower Kings album you will hear the same. This is very funny.

I also like the Hammond and Mellotron sounds on An ordinary night ... Are you still using the real instruments or did you find a good replacement in samplers and/or software synthesizer modules?
As a matter of fact no. Nowadays I have an endorsement of a Swedish synth manufacturer that has created a keyboard that has an absolutely fantastic Hammond clone sound. You can't hear the difference in the sound. You can only feel the difference, because the new keyboard is only 9 kilos and the Hammond Organ is too heavy.

The samples are in the keyboard; it is not a software synthesizer?
Actually it is a sort of analogue modelling. So it means that they have a digital model of how a Hammond should sound. Then you recreate it, so it is not a sample. It is a very new technique. Those software versions you are talking about are a little bit dirtier. The new keyboard has also all the warmth you have with a Hammond organ.

Do you like to experiment with the newest synths and keyboards?
Yeah I love it, I am crazy about it. And that lead to that I have been working for the company that makes the synthesizers to make the sounds and functions of the new synth. Also I have been working with the programmer of the sounds.

Sweden has brought us several good prog bands, but does prog sell in Sweden?
Well the progscene in Sweden, I think the groups you refer to are bands like Anglagard and Par Lindh and stuff like that. I wouldn't say that the progscene in Sweden is better or bigger then in let say America, England or whatever. We have a special sound in Sweden and I think people like that. We have a lot of influences of Swedish folk music. The sound is very gloomy and there is a little bit sadness in the compositions.

Do you like the music of the in my opinion very underrated Swedish band Isildurs Bane?
Yeah I heard them but I haven't listen too much of them. But what I heard it was OK.

Do you listen to other progbands or are you afraid of getting influenced by the music of those bands?
Yes I try to listen to a very wide spectrum of music. Right now from hardrock like Korn to Chopin. And also proggroups like Planet X, Symphony X and what more : Yeah what was the name of that group, hang on : eh I got a new CD which was very good actually. How was it called (from which country?) America : "Raising the mammoth": (Explorers Club) : Yeah the Explorers Club. Did you like it?
(I told Tomas that I wrote the review for progVisions - see our review section, it will be published in November)
Also I like the "Moon Babies" from Planet X, they play so well.

I would say that if you get influenced it is good. As long as you keep your own music clear then you can take any influence because it won't take away the sole of your music. You can only become better I think.

Are there other keyboard players you admire?
I think that Eddie Jobson is absolutely brilliant. Patrick Moraz and of course Rick Wakeman is a great keyboard player. But also I have listened a lot to Jazz pianists Roger Galloway from America and of course Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and stuff like that.

(We talked about Eddie Jobson and wondered what would have become of him. Also the names of Bill Bruford and Allan Holdsworth were mentioned - Tomas and I have the same age and we grew up listening to the same bands.)

One of your compositions "Violent Brat" on the bonus disk of The rainmaker I liked a lot. But all the other compositions are from the hand of Roine Stolt. Did you now have enough time to write again compositions for the new band album?
Yes, personally in my life things have settled down and now I am back to life and I want to make new music. Now that I am feeling OK the music comes pretty easily. It is not difficult to make new compositions.

Can you tell us something about the new Flower Kings album?
I would say that it is probably the best album we made so far. It is very wide in the structure. You have big epic songs; there are two long songs that are over 30 minutes. And we have improvisation that we have never done before. We only did it on a live CD. We thought it was time to do it now. The sound is very nice. Also for the first time I have been writing lyrics for the Flower Kings. The lyrics for two of the songs. We also have Daniel Gildenlow of Pain of Salvation on two songs. He will also joining us for the live tour.

So there will be more keyboards on the new album?
Yes absolutely, especially if you compare it with "The Rainmaker". A friend of mine who runs a radio show and who is very into symphonic music told me after "The Rainmaker" was released that he was very disappointed. Because he thought the keys were not like Flower Kings at all. I would say that we are back in business on this CD. It will be released on the 4th of November.

Do you agree with me that a lot of bands nowadays are more retro than progressive?
If you by retro mean music like Yes and the old Genesis, well I don't know. What I know is that the prog metal scene is shrinking. There has been a time that a lot of bands played prog metal like bands as Dream Theater but that is going back now and the more symphonic rock is coming back.

What is your definition of progressive music?
Well I would define it with the words "no limits". You have to listen to the word progressive and this means that you are allowed to do whatever you want. But if you say Symphonic that is completely different. That's very much like Gates of delirium and Close to the edge that kind of songs. That's Symphonic Rock. But progressive rock is when you mix different styles and take influences from other styles like jazz, fusion, Zappa or whatever and try to make something new out of it. Then it is progressive in my point of view.

Will there be a European tour? I know you will play in Holland next month, but what about Spain?
The first gig is on 12 November in Sweden and then the tour will go to Belgium, Holland, England, Germany, Poland, Swiss, and France.

You will not visit Spain?
No, not this time. (I don't think my Spanish friends will like that!) The reason for not playing in Spain : Well I think what we can do is go later to the south of France and perhaps Barcelona, Madrid and Portugal. I mean the distance down to Spain is a pretty long way to go and every mile on the road is a lot of money so we have to in order not to loose too much money. Because we loose money when we tour. In order to not loose too much we need to concentrate the gigs in sort of speak one area that is not too long to travel.

Would you say something to the readers of progVisions?
Well, what would that be eh : I hope to see them on the road at some gigs this autumn. Also there will be a new project where Jonas Reingold, Zoltan Csorsz and myself will work together with Daniel Gildenlow of Pain of Salvation. This will be released in the next year. And also there will be a new website called http://www.tomasbodin.com that is especially for "mister Hope" and his crazy world. It will be online in a week or two.

Thanks for your time, and see you on tour!
(Flower Kings will play 28 November in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands)
You must come to me and say hello then. You take care. Bye


Douwe Fledderus, October 2002




TOMAS BODIN - PINUP GURU (2002, INSIDE OUT MUSIC)
Tomas Bodin - keyboards; Jonas Reingold - bass; Zoltan Czorsz - drums

Aside from his regular gig as keyboard player in the Swedish retro-prog band The Flower Kings, Mr Tomas Bodin is an independent composer. Following 'An Ordinary Night In My Ordinary Life', comes his second solo outing 'Pinup Guru' (its title taken from an old Genesis lyric from 'The Battle of Epping Forest'). This album is a real rollercoaster of a ride and proves that Bodin is a master in his field. The album has a lengthy playing time of over 70 minutes, during which time, Bodin (aided and abetted by two of his Flower Kings colleagues) explores many different musical moods.
The album begins with 'Sodium Regale'; its huge church organ plays something which sounds majestic and leans towards a traditional hymn-like arrangement. Comparisons with Emerson Lake and Palmer will be inevitable, and I'm sure Bodin will be more than happy to be compared to the legendary Keith Emerson. This leads straight into the epic 'What's Going On', which is far more in keeping with the style of The Flower Kings. The mid-section is perhaps a little out there with its use of keyboard loops, but by the climax, Bodin, Reingold and Czorsz show what they are really capable of - the power-trio format really suits them. 'Me and Liz' was inspired by the breakdown of Bodin's marriage. It's a piece cut in half - the first slow and full of lament; the second quirky with a jazz-funk basis, allowing Reingold to show Jaco Pastorius influences within his bass work. This is an excellent example of how even instrumental pieces of music can be used to convey emotion. 'My Beautiful Neighbour' is a complex solo piano piece designed to show Bodin's skills with something a little more classically based (though not necessarily in the traditional sense). Although 'The Ballerina Is Not Getting Closer' is in a similar vein, being another solo piano piece, it's far less complicated as it's mainly based around a basic waltz structure.

'New In The 'Hood' is another of the album's high points. It's in a jazzier mood for the first part and some of Reingold's bass playing is in the spirit of Stanley Clarke's mid-'70s recordings (check out 'School Days' if you get the chance). In a change of pace, the middle part of this track shows more of a world music approach, led by Bodin's keyboards. The closing section is among one of the softer arrangements on 'Pinup Guru', being more in keeping with the easy jazz of Bob James. 'Blood' revisits Bodin's love of film soundtrack compositions, with its huge keyboard soundscape. Anyone who has heard the title track from 'The Rainmaker' (the excellent Flower Kings offering from 2001) will know how good Bodin is at this kind of thing. A real treat. 'Pinup Guru' closes play with 'The Last Sip', another extended piece, which revisits earlier musical themes from the album, presenting them as a huge reprise.

Tomas Bodin is a fantastic musician. If you like his work with The Flower Kings, this album is a must. If you like instrumental works with lots of old progressive rock and jazz influences, you should find a world of enjoyment listening to this album. Just make sure you turn out the lights.

Review By: Lee J Aspin (15/10/02)
URL: www.insideout.de
Comment: Release date 28/10/02
Rating: 8.5
Bookmark #BODIN






Biography

Tomas Bodin, born April 9th 1959.

Keyboard player, composer, musical director, arranger, producer...

He started his career with piano lessons at an early age, later on he studied music in Stockholm and started playing in local bands. In 1985 Tomas joined Roine Stolt's group "STOLT" and started touring and playing on records together with Roine.

Tomas also worked with music for different stage productions, including his own "Skils MДssa". A couple of years back, he wrote a performance called "En Gammal Meny" for Uppsala Stadsteater.

He invested his money in a huge array of electronic keyboards (Good move!!!) and learned everything there is about most synthesizers and keyboards in general.

The result of this growing interest in and knowledge of Midi-fied Keyboards led him to a position where he worked as a Computer-Based Midi Music Teacher.= Tomas also did a brief session as Music Publisher in the BLM company, together with Roine Stolt and former KAIPA bass player Tomas Eriksson.

At the present Tomas is working with various musical projects along with his work with "The FLOWER KINGS".= He has been composing music for leading theaters in Sweden like, Dramaten, Riksteatern and Uppsala Stadsteater.

Tomas released his first solo record "An Ordinary Night In My Ordinary Life" in 1996, containing keyboard centered Symphonic and Progressive music, and his second solo album "Pinup Guru", is to be released early autumn 2002.= Both CDs are released by InsideOut Music.

Tomas' influences ranges from Beatles, Macedonian music, Classic, Folk, Electronic, ELP, Ethnic, Film Scores, Jazz to Wagnerian Bombastics.= Prepare for a stylistic roller-coaster ride when you enter the world of Tomas Bodin on his solo outlets, they're great!





Tomas Bodin - Pinup Guru Country of Origin: Sweden
Format: CD
Record Label: InsideOut Music
Catalogue #: IOMACD 2046-2
Year of Release: 2002
Time: 70:54
Info: Tomas Bodin
Samples: Click here

Tracklist: Sodium Regale (3:39), What's Going On (13:37), Me and Liz (11:12), Harlem Heat (8:20), My Beautiful Neighbour (2:23), Ne win the 'Hood (7:18), Blood (5:42), The Ballerina is Not Getting Closer (1:55), The Last Eagle (5:50), The Final Swig (10:58)

2002 was quite a year for all things Flower Kings. Aside from the release of the impressive double CD 'Unfold the Future', and The Flower Kings 'Official Bootleg', fans have been regaled by a huge amount of new non- Flower Kings material from virtually every member of the band. Pinup Guru is the latest release from Tomas Bodin, their keyboardist. For the unfamiliar, Bodin has already carved himself quite an impressive repertoire by appearing on all of The Flower Kings releases, has one solo album out already, and another on the way. Like his first solo CD, Pinup Guru is entirely instrumental. But whereas for his first solo effort Bodin featured a more "standard" band make up (keys, guitar, drums, bass, percussion) which included just about all of the then members of The Flower Kings, this time out he has opted for the more intimate trio format of keyboards, bass, and drums. The result is one of the finest progressive rock albums of 2002.

For Pinup Guru, the title incidentally borrowed from a lyric in Genesis' "The Battle of Epping Forest", Bodin again stayed close to home in choosing players to accompany him. With approximately ten years of experience working together in various musical projects, bassist Jonas Reingold and drummer Zoltan Csorsz (the latest editions to The Flower Kings) are arguably the finest drummer/bassist combination to emerge on the progressive rock scene in years. Tomas has been playing extensively with them live and in the studio since early in 2001. With their incredible talents, he has been able to flesh out some brilliant compositions on this disk. Many of the titles on the album reflect aspects of Bodin's life over the period he wrote the pieces. But don't be fooled by the seemingly mundane nature of the song titles, as the music is anything but. On this CD the listener is treated to music with grand symphonic themes (Sodium Regale, What's Going On), cosmic sonic landscapes (Blood, The Last Eagle), gentle lilting piano pieces (My Beautiful Neighbor, The Ballerina is Not Getting Closer), and grooving, jazzy, ethnic and world music flavors (Harlem Heat, New in the Hood).

Bodin himself engineered the album (listed by his pseudonym "Don Gepetto") and Flower Kings band mate Roine Stolt handled the mastering (listed by his pseudonym "Don Azzarro"). The result of their labor is a sparkling and dynamically produced collection of music. The CD itself is presented within a cool gatefold cover, wherein the CD booklet is found neatly tucked on the inside pocket. I like the cover art and the liner notes, which are written by Bodin (they begin with "Dear Sir or Madam" and continue with the album introduction). Each song title is given a brief description, to let the listener know what Bodin was thinking when he came up with them.

Let me entice you further by saying that this is one of the finest keyboard centric works since the glory days of progressive rock in the 70's. All the elements of classic symphonic prog are there, but there is so much originality to this music as well. For Tomas is not only a masterful musician (he composes music for some of the leading theater groups in Sweden) but he is also an extremely talented sound-scape designer. And while he clearly owes a debt of style to his predecessors (such as Wakeman, Emerson, Jobson, and Moraz) he has a highly individual musical personality which he can call his own, and that's really saying something these days. His compositions are unique and daring, so although the album is a sprawling 71+ minutes long, I never find myself bored when I listen to it, or looking at the time count to find out when a piece on this CD will end.

So if you think you can handle an extremely adventurous album of instrumental Progressive symphonic rock (note the capital P), do yourself a favor, pick up a copy of Pinup Guru and give it a listen (or two, or twelve, or two hundred and twelve). In the vain of albums by the great originators of the style, Tomas Bodin's Pinup Guru is a release that may take some time to get your ears around entirely, but the effort is sure to pay off.

Conclusion: 9 out of 10

Chris Meeker