A Drop of Light by All Traps On Earth

A Drop of Light, 2018's (unfortunately) one-off by the band All Traps on Earth, is an essential progressive rock album. It was created by a Swedish quartet led by Johan Brand of  Anglagard, and also features two other members of the band, Thomas Johnson and Erik Hammarström, along with five other musicians playing saxophone, flute, and trumpet.

The album's release was preceded by five years of intense work.

It's a magnificent album of symphonic rock influenced by Anglagard, but also by the Canterbury scene and a touch of jazz.

Some notes on the tracks

- "All Traps on Earth" opens the album magnificently, a suite of about 18 minutes with sounds reminiscent of the Zeuhl style, but with prominent horns and mellotron, and a stratospheric bass.

- Magmatic Warning is another long piece, clocking in at around 16 minutes, with a powerful opening that shifts into a soft, emotionally impactful mood. Here too, the bass and Mellotron dominate, but the piano and flute also find their voice. A great piece.

- Omen is a masterpiece with a very symphonic-orchestral sound and a stunning performance by drummer Erik Hammarström. The wind section is superb in this magnificent composition.

- First Step is a brief interlude lasting about two minutes, initially featuring solo piano, then involving the entire band. Romantic.

- Bortglömda Gårdar closes the album, a splendid fourteen minutes featuring a splendid harpsichord, excellent vocals, powerful bass, flutes, sporadic percussion, vibraphone, piano, and the ever-present Mellotron, all with exceptional shifts in tempo, mood, sound, and complexity. Masterpiece.

A masterful and complex album with beautiful compositions and a commanding sound thanks to splendid horns and keyboards, including a monumental Mellotron. The atmosphere is dark and melancholic, at times menacing, with splendid melodic bass lines and complex guitar riffs. An indispensable album.

Tracklist

1. All Traps On Earth (18:17)
2. Magmatic Warning (16:10)
3. Omen (13:00)
4. First Step (2:04)
5. Bortglömda Gårdar (14:01)

Duration 63:32

LineUp

- Miranda Brand - vocals
- Johan Brand - Mellotron, Moog Voyager, Minitaur, organs, Fender Rhodes, clavinet, basses, Taurus pedals, guitar, percussion, vocals, composer, arranger, producer
- Thomas Johnson - grand piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Pianet, clavinet, organ, Mellotron, Moog Voyager
- Erik Hammarström - drums, snare drum, vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, glockenspiel, crotales, timpani, bass drum, woodblock, tambourine, tubular bells

Featuring:
- Phil Mercy - guitar
- Fredrik Lindborg - bass clarinet, baritone, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones
- Karl Olandersson - trumpet, flugelhorn
- Magnus BÃ¥ge - flute
- Matthias Bååth - flutes, concert flutes, tenor and contralto recorders

This album is a true Progressive Rock METEOR. Visit the PROG METEOR section for more information.

Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.