www.betreutesproggen.de – Online magazine for progressive rock – Horst Werner Riedel – 11.2024

Switzerland is not exactly a European prog mecca, but there are still some musical gems that should be on your radar. Alongside artists and bands such as Patrick Moraz, Cosmos, Clepsydra, Metamorphosis, Shakary and many more, the Lucerne-based band Flame Dream have also managed to achieve a certain popularity in the music scene. Founded in 1977, the Swiss band, like so many of their contemporaries, were influenced by bands such as Genesis, Van der Graaf Generator and UK. The musicians developed their unmistakable style, which was characterised in particular by the high proportion of keyboards. The usual electric guitars were replaced by saxophone interludes, which gave the sound more individuality.

The combination of classic rock, progressive rock, jazz, fusion and, later in the 80s, mainstream rock did the rest. From 1978 to 1986, the band released six notable studio albums: ‘CALATEA’ (1979), ‘ELEMENTS’ (1980), ‚OUT IN THE DARK’ (1981), ‘SUPERVISION’ (1982), ‘TRAVAGANZA’ (1983) and ‘8 on 6’ (1986). After 38 years of absence, the Swiss band wanted to give it another go and are back with their original line-up with their album ‚SILENT TRANSITION’. The Swiss have found reinforcement in Alex Hutchings, an excellent guitarist from Bristol, England. He mainly plays and teaches jazz fusion, rock and R&B and toured with Steven Wilson's live band at the end of 2017.

With six tracks between six and fifteen minutes and a total running time of a good 62 minutes, the album is packed with FLAME DREAM's typical progressive rock. ‘Silent Transition’ deals with the burning issues of the present. Whether growing loneliness in the digital age, the global crisis world or the loss of biodiversity - all tasks that first had to be translated into written music. The extended instrumental passages, logically coherent and comprehensible lyrics and a transparent mix respectively sound that the musicians have succeeded in doing so. All this makes for an interesting music project. The Swiss band's many years of experience have clearly paid off. Of course, a successful overall package also includes outstanding artwork. Band member Urs Hochuli lent a hand and created a fine digipack including a 20-page booklet. For vinyl and digital fans, there are of course alternative formats.

True to the motto ‘good things take time’, Swiss proggers Flame Dream are back - and with a new album that is well worth listening to. Not only long-established fans of the Swiss band should take a listen.