Europe’s new studio album “Last Look at Eden” was released today in Scandinavia… and if, like me, you are lucky enough to have come by this disc… you might have reacted just as I did: “uh? what? cool… wow!”
Granted, this is not much of a review and I am about to explain myself… Well, John Levèn said about “Last Look at Eden” (on the band’s official website): [...] “an album that shows that Europe are still getting better and better.” Mic Michaeli says something interesting too: “The 70’s meets the millennium.“
After listening to the music many times, and pondering about how the band feels about it… I finally decided that I liked… loved it. More importantly, I think I can for once explain better why.
It took me a few years to have “Start from the dark” growing in me and it had become probably my favourite album… I liked “Secret Society” at once, but it was over-shone by its predecessor… I know, weird… Today, I know I will not be able to say that anymore about “Start from the dark“…
“Last Look at Eden” took its place. Referring to what Mic said, I do agree… I heard on this album, many old Europe sounds (from before the split up). For instance, I heard a little bit of “Yesterday’s News” on track 11: “Run with Angels“ ; a bit of “A long time coming” & “Government Man” on track 3: “Gonna Get Ready” ; a bit of “Prisoners in Paradise” as an overall old lingering sound. Keep in mind though that these are very light touches of “old Europe” that I hear (you may not agree!) The difference today is that the music is richer and the lyrics… well, let’s say that they suit me way better today.
So, when Europe came back, they threw everything that made them different from how they used to be (and play) as musicians. It took them two albums to explore only their new musical possibilities. “Last Look at Eden” brings back the Europe spirit that we all know and mixes it with their musical and human growth. To quote John Levèn again: “Europe are still getting better and better.” Finally, when one listens to “Last Look at Eden“, one could say sometimes: “that riff could have come from a Deep Purple or a Richtie Blackmore’s album”, hence probably the quote from Mic: “The 70’s meet the millenium“.
Still on the band’s official website, Joey Tempest is talking about John Norum’s bluesy feeling when he is playing the guitar… though to tell you the truth, I had never noticed that aspect (no offence John)… On “Last Look at Eden“, John is playing with more feelings and bluesy touch (on some tracks) that I have ever heard him play before. That was one of the hugest and greatest surprises I had from the album.
Another surprise hit me as I played on though… curious as I was, I followed the progress of the album making on Europe’s blog… However, I had forgotten all about the Czech national symphony orchestra (which they use on four tracks)!!! That was a fantastic surprise to my ears, not only because of the orchestra and not because I noticed the orchestra at once (I actually did not). I grunted like in the beginning of this review when I first heard track 8: “No stone unturned” (I here a little bit of Ritchie Blackmore there or Rainbow) ; the melody is one that I had not been accustomed to with Europe despite the influences I hear in it. They all play marvelously, though I must say Mic’s keyboard playing made me listen even more closely. In short, one of their best creations if you ask me.
Of course, they serve us very well indeed with the powerful and emotional ballad “In my Time” that ends the album majestically. Just like “The Prelude” followed by the title track “Last Look at Eden” just make us want more, which the rest of the album gives without a glitch.
What can I say except that Europe outdid themselves with “Last Look at Eden“… there are absolutely “no stone left unturned“. It is musically brilliant, where old and new spirit of the five musicians combine perfectly. Highly anticipated album for which the expectations are, no doubt, just as high all over the world… “Last Look at Eden” is no surprise, yet it has probably become one of the best surprises of the 2009 rock scene.
Europe mp3 store (non-Scandinavian customers might have to wait though).
/Claire
One more thing… this is hell of an album to work out with at the gym!
