Carlsson, Patrik CD's and DVD's

 

Melodic Travel

CD
Lion Music

  

€9.90

$12.90
The Second album of the Swedish guitar virtuoso
Phraseology

CD
Lion Music

  

€9.90

$12.90
Debut solo album from the best guitarist to come out of Sweden for a very long time! Influenced by Steve Vai but will a style of his own.
 
Downloads and audio samples
 
Reviews:
Carlsson, Patrik: Melodic Travel
 

Lion Music seems to have become the new Mecca for fairly unknown guitar talent throughout the world. Enter Swede, Patrik Carlsson. This 2nd release, Melodic Travel is an instrumental dream, featuring 16 tracks of sheer guitar brilliance that can only be compared to the likes of Steve Vai, Jeff Beck, Buckethead, and Joe Satriani.

Now, before this review I had never heard of Mr. Carlsson, but after only one listen through it was obvious the complete mastery within. A second run through just gives more clarity of Patrik Carlsson’s true depth. A true maestro like Prince, Carlsson plays ALL the instruments on this CD, and plays all of the very well, indeed. But this is through and through a showcase of his guitar abilities. A shredder of sorts? Yes, but like Mr. Vai, this is NOT even a ¼ of what makes him so deadly. His precision, taste and attention to phrasing are what set him apart. Carlsson has that Zappa/Vai humor to his phrasing that is both accurate and off the wall at the same time and all the while very entertaining and wacky. He also has a killer guitar tone that allows his very angular playing to reach out and grab you. Self produced, written, performed and arranged by Carlsson, Melodic Travel is a joyride for the listener and a text book for the fellow guitarist.

Melodic Travel is full of different vibes from song to song. Carlsson successfully marriages jazz styling’s, traditional Swedish music, full on Rock, Spanish flavored salsa beats and even folk inspired themes, all into a wonderfully cohesive and flowing mix. The underlying theme throughout Melodic Travels is just that, all things melodic. The style doesn’t matter because Carlsson pulls off each so well. The different musical environments that Carlsson makes up here are just pleasing. From funky to folk, it is just plain good! On any given track of the 16 here, you can close your eyes and imagine the landscape that Patrik Carlsson has painstakingly drawn for you. The musically sculpted interludes of seclusion on an island or watching the sunset on an ocean, the imagery is simply uncanny.

CD opener, “Settler’s Pleasure” is a Vai-ish “Bad Horsie” flavored rocker. Slow and somewhat brooding with lots of attitude! Carlsson sets the table with this perfect CD opener. Other highlights are the salsa flavored “Luxian Minor”, the sultry “Hip n’ Melodic”, and the funky “The Great A”. There are no real 2 songs alike on this CD, which really makes this such an interesting instrumental release.

This is as visual of a CD that music can get. Very melodic and moving while touching on a vast amount of different styles, Patrik Carlsson is name that you should get to know. Comparisons to guitar legends aside, Carlsson is very much his own player. He transcends styles and plays them all equally with a masters fluidity. A Mutha of a player he is!!! 16 tracks of pure musical expression and there isn’t a dud song among the bunch.

Patrik Carlsson is a guitar inspiration and I for one am glad that this CD came across my desk, albeit 6 months after it’s initial release! Carlsson is a player that NEEDS to heard!


Track Listing
1. Settler’s Pleasure
2. Battlefield
3. Kristiina’s Song
4. Caribbean Uptempo
5. Gate To Heaven
6. Liberty City
7. Luxian Minor
8. Archipelago Blues
9. Night Vision
10. The Great A
11. Hip ‘n Melodic
12. Desederia
13. Happy Quarter
14. Naboo
15. Spanish Vaganza
16. Silence

Added: June 4th 2007
Reviewer: Butch Jones  www.seaoftranquility.org
Score:

 

 

Patrik Carlsson - Melodic Travel (Lion Music) By: Joe Florez  www.live4metal.com
For some unknown reason, it seems like Lion Music signs every so-called guitar virtuoso as soon as they hear someone with an ounce of talent. This label is becoming the new Shrapnel Records for the 21st century. Enter Swedish guitar instrumentalist Patrik Carlsson. I have never heard of him either, but he has a couple of releases under his belt and now the label seems ready to expose him to the world.
“Settler’s Pleasure” begins with only a distorted axe noodling around and dishing out some simple, but catchy riffs. Halfway through the song, the programmed drums enter the picture as well as bass and anything else to flesh out the piece. What starts off as something that
sounds like was recorded in demo mode before going into the studio turns out quite nice and quick. “Battlefield” is another nice number that throws in hints of atmosphere to make it sound like you are entering a war. The solo work is a tad flashy, but never goes over the top and can even sound sincere at times despite it being an upbeat and somewhat heavy number. Of course with every instrumental disc, we have to show off our soft and gentle side and we get it with “Kristina’s Song.” Definitely not sappy, but more so filled with happiness and positive energy. A genre that I absolutely loathe, rockabilly gets amped up here with “Caribbean Uptempo.” This one is fast and never looks back. Quite a joy to these ears. The music contained within never stays in one genre too long. On tap here as well is the smooth jazz cut “Archipelago Blues.” The tempo is just right and avoids bogging the listener down with boredom. I must say that this isn’t a metal release by any stretch of the imagination, but the elements are there especially during the first few songs. The writing style is mature and the performance is entertaining. I think this man deserves a shot at being heard, but with the competition being so grand these days it’s hard to predict if this fella will sink or swim. There is some potential for his music to be heard on terrestrial radio on the softer channels or even satellite radio, but only time will tell. A thoroughly entertaining piece of art for sure. www.lionmusic.com | www.figstamper.com

 

PATRIK CARLSSON / Phraseology / Lion Music
by: DAN SKIBA www.metalexpress.com

The adage stating “You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover” has never been truer than with this Carlsson CD. Here you have one of the most bland, colorless, uneventful album covers in the history of album covers … could indeed cause anyone to make the hasty initial impression that the instrumental music contained within likely suffers from similar anemia. Instead, cracking open this ugly Phraseology oyster is well worth violating your initial better judgment, because in doing so, listeners will indeed stumble upon a shiny musical pearl!

Hailing from Sweden, Carlsson has written a multi-dimensional, guitar-driven instrumental CD in Phraseology. There’s plenty of Metal here, but there’s also several tracks with Funky grooves, others exuding happiness and humor, and even a tinge or 2 of the Blues, Shit-Kickin’ Country, and Classical music styles. All of this musical eclecticism is driven by power-guitar play that has been purposefully mixed way at the forefront of each song, and smacks you right between the eyes with its energy and precision.

Carlsson, essentially a studio musician who has participated in a short dozen or so of different projects, lists Steve Vai as one of his primary influences. Sure, there’s plenty of Vai in Phraseology, but there’s also some Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, and Malmsteen tendencies demonstrated too. Carlsson, showing that he doesn’t take himself or his passions too seriously, also adds comedic voices every now and then to ensure the musical experience remains fun for the listener … and it works … there’s no doubt this album was intended to come across with an overall jovial temperament, especially with song titles such as “Mosquito,” “High Pitch,” and “Cartoon Hippie.”

Along with Carlsson’s guitar methods, the percussion work is also quite interesting. The likes of Satriani and Malmsteen have notoriously subdued the drum work in their albums in order to not drown out their guitar playing. Carlsson takes a different approach … more specifically, the drums sound like whomever is playing them is literally bludgeoning them as viciously as possible, delivering a truly severe beating to the drum kit throughout the lion’s share of this 15-set track listing. It’s certainly a nice change of pace to hear such percussion power and emphasis in a guitar-dominated instrumental CD.

Carlsson’s songs do a good job too of assimilating the feel of the track titles, and his guitar work sells all of his concepts. The CD is not without blemish, though. After starting out with 4 superb tracks, the 5th track, “Aeryn Sun” slows down the pace and gets a bit boring as Carlsson decides to hold extended notes a bit too often. Also, track 6, “Epsilon Indi,” is a Funky song, but has a drumbeat that doesn’t really follow the guitar line well. Carlsson regains his stride with track 7, “High Pitch” (thankfully), and never loses it again whilst bravely delving into various permutations of Metal/Miscellaneous Musical Genres.

Overall, Carlsson is at his best when he’s playing fast-paced, straightforward Metal instrumentals. His variations, though, keep this CD fresh and add layers of innovativeness that essentially work no matter what the musical flavor of the moment may be. Carlsson’s CD should appeal to a vast cross-section of Metalheadz, and can fulfill a number of purposes for an individual listener … obviously, like most instrumentals, Phraseology can justly serve as a one-on-one musical experience, but the light nature of many songs and stylistic variations make this a multi-functional CD – it can fire you up, get you in the mood for a night of boozing on the town, or serve as curious background music for virtually any upbeat social event. A definite keeper …

Learn more about Patrik Carlsson by checking out the Lion Music Web site.

REPORT CARD:
Guitars: A-
Bass: B+
Percussion: B+
Recording Quality: B+
Originality: B+
Overall Rating: B+
Release Date: July 2004


 

Band: Patrik Carlsson (Patrik Carlsson's website)


 
Phraseology
Band: Patrik Carlsson
Released: 2004
Our Rating: 8
User Rating: N/A
I was never too much into instrumental albums, I don't really know why, I just always felt that the music was "incomplete", if you know what I mean. But when you really think about it, the vocals are just like another instrument, so if I'm able to enjoy any album without one particular instrument, why should one without vocals be any different? Nonetheless, I still miss the vocals a little more than any other instrument, but that's me. It doesn't mean at all that I dislike instrumental music or anything like that.

Anyway, what I hold on my hands is the latest album from Patrik Carlsson entitled "Phraseology". I have to say that I haven't heard of him before, but he's actually considered to be the best guitarist from Sweden since Yngwie. His main influence is probably Steve Vai, but Patrik Carlsson has his own sound style, so don't expect any Vai clone.
He's able to create songs for every taste, it's actually quite impressive. From Country to Rock, you name it. Still, his Metal songs are definitely what turns his music much more appealing, at least to me.
There are also a couple of cool sounds effects that add a little humour to the music, specially in the last songs of the album.

There isn't much more I can add about Patrik Carlsson "Phraseology". It's not only very well done in terms of the guitars, it also has a lot of diversity since you can find a lot of elements from other genres besides Metal, which makes this a very well crafted album.
I was never too much into instrumental albums, like I've already said, but this one is actually quite nice to my ears!


Tracklist:

1. Jimi's Tribute
2. The Survivor
3. Still Believe
4. Twilight Zone
5. Aeryn Sun
6. Epsilon Indi
7. High Pitch
8. Mosquito
9. Guardian Angel
10. Supernova
11. Exotic Bossa
12. Smooth Rider
13. Andrea, it's Xmas
14. Lisa's Passion for Heavy Metal
15. Cartoon Hippie



Crepusculo www.metal-march.com
Patrik Carlsson - Phraseology
 

Artist: Patrik Carlsson
Title: Phraseology
Label: Lion Music
Length: 51’34”
Tracks: 15
Style:
Origin: Sweden

Many great guitar players did not go to a school and learn to play so good. No most of them taught themselves how to play, although a certain amount of education from a teacher is helpful. 15 year old Patrik Carlsson had an acoustic guitar, had learned how to play two songs, but was not accepted at a music school he tried to get into. A year later he discovered Steve Vai and especially the album Passion and Warfare made a huge impression on him (coincidently also the first Vai album I ever heard). He set himself to learn to play just as good as Vai and studied his ass off. Now, some 10 years later, Patrik Carlsson has his own studio, worked on several albums and now brings out his latest work, a solo album called Phraseology (no references to Prince here).

The first thing I noticed, was the Satriani/Vai influence. His use of funky but crunchy riffs and various sound effects, gave it a familiar sound to me. On the Jimi Hendrix tribute album he also contributed a few songs and already then I picked up some serious Satriani sounds in one song, but the other two sounded really good and so far I really love his album. It is far better than any of the other instrumental guitar albums I heard the past months. Carlsson plays with great easy and pleasure and this is noticeable in the songs. I like the sound effects, as this brings some humor in the music.

Carlsson’s guitar play is fantastic, funky, fast, crunchy, heavy and harmonious, how do you describe the sound of the guitar? However you describe it, he plays on the same level as Satriani or Vai, he is just not as known as them. Besides his amazing play, I also like the song titles, as they also say a lot about how he is. What do you think of ’Exptoc Bossa’? This song would almost fit the Copa Cabana! Or ’Andrea – It’s X-mas’, Carlssons version of a children’s song, which is really good. ’Lisa’s Passion for Heavy Metal’ is short, but nice and heavy, with some nice twists. Last but not least: ’Cartoon Hippie’, really hilarious, with some cartoon effects and some cool, heavy riffs.

Mind you it is just Carlsson and his guitar, in the background you do hear some drums, but most likely they come out of a computer. Which is OK, as the album is about Patrik Carlsson and his guitar and I think he has succeeded in telling his story. Great album, lot’s of Satriani / Vai influences, but has enough original play and material to stand on his own legs. He gets my vote, for sure, for this fantastic album. He is definitely one of the better guitar players around and I think he should be included in the next G3 shows…let Vai or Satriani play some of HIS stuff!


Track listing:
Jimi’s Tribute / The Survivor / Still Believe / Twilight Zone / Aeryn Sun / Epsilon Indi / High Pitch / Mosquito / Guardian Angel / Supernova / Exptoc Bossa / Supernova / Andrea – It’s X-mas / Lisa’s Passion for Heavy Metal / Cartoon Hippie

Added: August 11th 2004
Reviewer: MarcelH www.progpower.de
Score:
Related Link: http://www.figstamper.com/