BEARDFISH – Songs For Beating Hearts (Album Review)

If you’re looking for Autumnal prog-rock to fit the mood of the season, there’s no better place to look than Sweden. Happily, Beardfish’s unexpected reunion album has all that your heart needs. After disbanding in 2016, it didn’t take too long after a global pandemic for the quartet to find their way back to one another. Rikard Sjöblom, David Zackrisson, Magnus Östgren, and Robert Hansen seemingly continue right where they left off. Starting with a few jam sessions of older material, their bond quickly reaffirmed itself as new musical ideas started emerging. The result is an hour of some of the best Beardfish you’ll find in their catalog. In other words, it’s high time they made amends and made music once again!

The album is focused on two main songs: “Ecotone” which shows up in three different guises throughout the album, and most notably “Out In The Open” which is a five-part epic, cohesively woven together. These pieces alone are worth the price of admission, though there are several other gems included here, too. Let’s dig in.

Acoustic fingerpicking and Sjöblom’s warm vocals open the album with “Ecotone”, carrying the title of the album in its lyrics, “I can hear songs for beating hearts, the seismic rhythm underground. What once was lost shall be found.” Indeed. Bordering on melancholic, these wistful melodies wrap themselves around the listener like autumn leaves falling, as Amanda Örtenhag’s supporting vocals float on by. “The ever-present sadness, a companion of sorts. I almost named you after myself but you are not of this world.” It’d be heartbreaking if it weren’t so beautiful. What a song.

Twenty-minute epic “Out In The Open” is the natural centerpiece of the album, so the fact that it begins right after “Ecotone” is somewhat of a surprise. Hang on to your hats, this band isn’t messing around. Sprinting out of the gate with an overture for Part One, Sjöblom’s piano and keyboards are at the fore with Hansen’s bass prominently established as the driving force. Themes are introduced which will repeat throughout the subsequent sections and as we move into Part Two “Oblivion” (not to be confused with the recent Big Big Train song of the same name which Sjöblom also appeared on), the lyrics start to reveal that Sjöblom might be singing about the breakup and reunion of the band itself. At times the vibe is reminiscent of Phish, whose fans would do well to check out this bearded fish if they want to up their musical ante. Quirky, passionate, and deftly executed, “Oblivion” is a fantastic piece on its own, but we soon move into a tender acoustic passage for Part Three, “Hopes And Dreams”, which is more of a love song to Sjöblom’s kids. A reprise of “Oblivion” compromises Part Four where the whole band gets to flex their chops – including an absolutely killer organ solo – and they’re on fire. The concluding section wraps up in an intoxicating reverb-drenched slow-motion jam that’ll send your pineal gland into orbit. Brilliant.

As if that grandeur wasn’t enough, the title track “Beating Hearts” follows up with 11 minutes of symphonic prog delights with nary a moment to catch one’s breath. Opening with a string section intro and moving into a mini overture from the full band, the piece then segues into a classic acoustic motif straight out of Robert Fripp’s playbook. From raging vocal delivery to passioned guitar solos to the busy bass line underneath and accompanying percussion, it’s classic Beardfish, all with strings supporting throughout the piece. What’s not to love?

Two fine songs already released as singles round out the latter part of the album: the chiming “In The Autumn” which features a potent duet with Amanda Örtenhag, and the marching pulse of “Torrential Downpour”, its lyrics providing an outlet for Sjöblom to process the passing of his father. “Call me the son of sun, daughter of the moon, we live in the clouds.” The aforementioned “Ecotone” gets two reprises as well: a brief passage played as if on an old beaten-up piano, and a curious – almost funny – “Norrsken 1982 edition” which does indeed feature plenty of effects evoking the belovedly maligned ‘80s.

“Songs For Beating Hearts” marks a triumphant return for Beardfish, featuring songs that intuitively hit the mark and leave us hungering for more. Promisingly, the band has noted that additional songs were recorded during these sessions, so already there is more material in the queue. Welcome back, friends, you’ve been missed.

Released By: Inside Out Music
Release Date: November 1st, 2024
Genre: Progressive Rock

Musicians:

• Rikard Sjöblom / vocals and keyboards
• David Zackrisson / guitars
• Robert Hansen / bass
• Magnus Östgren / drums

“Songs For Beating Hearts” Track-Listing:

1. Ecotone (4:30)
2. Out in the Open (20:33)
3. Beating Hearts (11:01)
4. In the Autumn (5:58)
5. Ecotone (Reprise) (0:43)
6. Torrential Downpour (8:29)
7. Ecotone – Norrsken 1982 Edition (Bonus Track) (6:13)

Order “Songs For Beating Hearts” HERE