The Swiss act Flame Dream continues with a series of reissues of their albums, and now it is the turn of their first discographic work „Calatea“, originally released back in 1979. This is also a kind of concept album, containing 6 tracks.
Led by the main author and keyboardist Roland Ruckstuhl, the band performed their version of progressive/symphonic prog tendencies, which were in line with bands like Genesis, Gentle Giant, Van der Graaf Generator, with added softened jazz rock elements. Although the songs possess a certain complexity, richness of sound, and intelligence of conceptual ideas, they made the band acceptable to audiences who had stricter views regarding this genre. This is also the case with this album, which, viewed from today’s perspective, does not at all seem like a debut work of some beginners, but rather the work of performers who handle the music they presented brilliantly. Although „Calatea“ has never been considered their best or one of their most convincing releases, the very value of the album and the music presented should not be valued any less.
„Calatea“ in the new CD form is technically presented in a relevant manner, and the CD release is enriched with a lavish 20-page booklet.
Švajcarski akt Flame Dream nastavlja sa serijom reizdanja svojih albuma, pa je tako sada došlo na red njihovo prvo diskografsko ostvarenje „Calatea“, svojevremeno objavljeno davne 1979-e godine. Ovo je takođe neka vrsta konceptualnog albuma na kojem se našlo 6 numera.
Predvođeni glavnim autorom i klavijaturistom Rolandom Ruckstuhlom, sastav je izvodio svoju varijantu progressive/symphonic prog tendencija, koje su bile na tragu sastava Genesis, Gentle Giant, Van der Graaf Generator, sa dodacima ublaženih jazz rock tendencija. Iako pesme poseduju određenu kompleknost, koloritnost zvuka i inteligentnost idejnih postavki, činili su sastav prihvatljivim i onoj publici koja je imala strožije svetonazore, kada je ovaj žanr u pitanju.
Takav je slučaj i sa ovim albumom, koji posmatrano iz današnjeg ugla ni najmanje ne deluje kao debitantsko ostvarenje nekakvih početnika, već aktera koji se sjajno snalaze u muzici kojom su se predstavili. Iako se „Calatea“ nikada nije smatrala njihovim najboljim ili jednim od najubedljivijih izdanja, sama vrednost albuma i muzike koja je prikazana ništa specijalno ne treba biti manje vrednovana.
„Calatea“ u novoj CD formi je tehnički relevantno predstavljana, a CD izdanje je obogaćeno raskošnim 20-to stranim bookletom.
maj 21 2026
FLAME DREAM – „Calatea“
(eVe Records) 2026./1979.
CD/digital
Progressive/symphonic prog. – SWITZERLAND
The Swiss act Flame Dream continues with a series of reissues of their albums, and now it is the turn of their first discographic work „Calatea“, originally released back in 1979. This is also a kind of concept album, containing 6 tracks.
Led by the main author and keyboardist Roland Ruckstuhl, the band performed their version of progressive/symphonic prog tendencies, which were in line with bands like Genesis, Gentle Giant, Van der Graaf Generator, with added softened jazz rock elements. Although the songs possess a certain complexity, richness of sound, and intelligence of conceptual ideas, they made the band acceptable to audiences who had stricter views regarding this genre. This is also the case with this album, which, viewed from today’s perspective, does not at all seem like a debut work of some beginners, but rather the work of performers who handle the music they presented brilliantly. Although „Calatea“ has never been considered their best or one of their most convincing releases, the very value of the album and the music presented should not be valued any less.
„Calatea“ in the new CD form is technically presented in a relevant manner, and the CD release is enriched with a lavish 20-page booklet.
flamedreammusic.com
Serbian version :
Švajcarski akt Flame Dream nastavlja sa serijom reizdanja svojih albuma, pa je tako sada došlo na red njihovo prvo diskografsko ostvarenje „Calatea“, svojevremeno objavljeno davne 1979-e godine. Ovo je takođe neka vrsta konceptualnog albuma na kojem se našlo 6 numera.
Predvođeni glavnim autorom i klavijaturistom Rolandom Ruckstuhlom, sastav je izvodio svoju varijantu progressive/symphonic prog tendencija, koje su bile na tragu sastava Genesis, Gentle Giant, Van der Graaf Generator, sa dodacima ublaženih jazz rock tendencija. Iako pesme poseduju određenu kompleknost, koloritnost zvuka i inteligentnost idejnih postavki, činili su sastav prihvatljivim i onoj publici koja je imala strožije svetonazore, kada je ovaj žanr u pitanju.
Takav je slučaj i sa ovim albumom, koji posmatrano iz današnjeg ugla ni najmanje ne deluje kao debitantsko ostvarenje nekakvih početnika, već aktera koji se sjajno snalaze u muzici kojom su se predstavili. Iako se „Calatea“ nikada nije smatrala njihovim najboljim ili jednim od najubedljivijih izdanja, sama vrednost albuma i muzike koja je prikazana ništa specijalno ne treba biti manje vrednovana.
„Calatea“ u novoj CD formi je tehnički relevantno predstavljana, a CD izdanje je obogaćeno raskošnim 20-to stranim bookletom.
Objavio Branimir Lokner • International reviews • • Tags: Branimir Lokner, Calatea, Flame Dream, Progressive/symphonic prog., Switzerland, Time Machine Music