There’s just something you have to love about Scandinavian progressive rock, there’s a warmth and organic joy about the music that stems from those lands and the latest from Sweden’s excellent HFMC (Hasse Fröberg & Musical Companion) is no exception.
The band’s fifth studio album is an absolute gem and follows up 2019’s fan favourite ‘Parallel Life’, Hasse says of the new release:
“We Are The Truth is our most adventurous album to date. The music is positive, warm, organic, soulful and thoughtful. The lyrics are a cry for compassion, respect and love. We Are The Truth is both musically and lyrically very much about the world today”.
In a world that has become a place of darkness, fear and jealousy, ‘We Are The Truth’ shines like a beacon of light with its uplifting songs, wonderful music and Hasse’s distinctive vocals imbuing everything with a sepia tinged feeling of good will.
Music is something that can fill your soul with comfort, delight and elation and, from the first note of To Those Who Rule The World, there’s a heady feeling of good natured fun. This album is chock full of memorable chorus’s, chunky riff’s and amazing melodies that will last long in the memory. Bluesy, funky and full of Scandinavian soul, HFMC have that feel of seasoned professionals who just love what they do and want to share that affection with the rest of the world.
Other Eyes and Rise Up have an almost anthemic feel to them with a soaring chorus that just begs to be sung along to and a jaunty rhythm that just puts a smile on your face. There’s the longer, more intricate and utterly magnificent Constant Search For Bravery, the dreamy, childlike delight of Yoko, the sublime brilliance of title track We Are The Truth and the emotion and warmth of Every Second Counts, the hits of pure joy and elation just keep coming.
As in a lot of cases, the best is kept till last. Coming in at just under eleven minutes, A Spiritual Change showcases all that’s best about HFMC. Musically complex yet at the same time eminently accessible and listenable there’s an incredibly catchy motif running throughout and Hasse’s vocals are, once again, superb. Just let this song wash over you and enjoy the sense of joy, fun, bonhomie, warmth and charm that takes you to a higher plane, simply wonderful!
This superlative gem of release is worthy of all the praise that is being heaped upon it and finishes 2021 on an utter high for this reviewer, the finest of a wonderful crop of albums released this year? You’ll have to wait and see but it is most definitely right up there with the very, very best.
Released November 26th, 2021
Order the album from bandcamp here:
We Are The Truth | Hasse Fröberg & Musical Companion (bandcamp.com)