It’s one you can play when you want something mellow but with a bit of a harder edge. With the combination of Rydholm and Säfsund who clearly understand each other perfectly as artists it works brilliantly on its own terms as an excellent rock album. This is a really enjoyable album that doesn’t try to rewrite the rule book because it doesn’t need to. The final track ‘ Race against Time‘ is another ballad with a fantastic piano and violin accompaniment that just oozes class and finishes off the album on a real high. size: 785 x 600 pixels, filesize: 155.98 KB Estimated download time: 3 secs. Trendy design template with glitch distortion effect. Art Of Illusion - X Marks The Spot - back. ‘ Rampant Wildfire‘ once again ramps up the heavier rock sound to good effect and the song gathers pace, becoming a Whitesnake style track complete with David Coverdale vocals that works extremely well. Cyberpunk vector background with horizontal distorted lines. You can tell that they had lots of fun recording this one. ‘ Catch You if I Can‘ is a proper guitar driven track that is full of energy and life. ‘ A Culinary Detour‘ is not the title you would expect to find on a rock album, but it is their version of Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy with the same playfulness as they run through various Italian foods for no other reason, you suspect, than the fact that they sound good when sung! It’s just great fun and leaves you with a smile on your face. There is a clear affection for their more theatrical approach and it definitely suits Art of Illusion. ![]() ‘ Let the Games Begin‘ once again channels Queen, this time the track Innuendo, and you can tell that Rydholm and Säfsund have spent many hours listening to the group. ‘ Snakebite Charm‘ is a song that builds and builds towards a fist in the air chorus which shows that these guys can handle the heavier end of the rock canon. ![]() ‘ Go‘ finishes the first half of the album with a really effective call and response song that will go down a storm live once concerts finally restart. The vocals sound reminiscent of Joe Elliott and it would definitely have been at home on a late 80s Def Leppard album. ‘ 4AM‘ is the first straightforward rock track, but even then it is a really smooth one. It is a delightful track that I enjoyed from start to finish. ‘ Waltz for the Movies‘ is a Queen style romp with Säfsund making a good job of channelling Freddie Mercury and some superb use of the multi-layered vocals that epitomised the Queen sound. ‘ My Loveless Lullaby‘ is a very smooth ballad based on an Abba style tune given more of an edge by some really good guitar work. No scuffs or scratches, possibly still sealed. Media Condition: Media: Mint (M) The disc is in perfect condition. ‘ Run‘ is an REO Speedwagon style AOR ballad with great guitar work that give the music a depth that makes it instantly appealing. Art Of Illusion (2) - X Marks The Spot (CD, Album) Unavailable in United States. It has a real 80s feel with a Europe influence as you might expect from a countryman steeped in the music of these rock giants. ![]() The opening track ‘ Wild and Free‘ starts off with a keyboard riff reminiscent of Chequered Love and Säfsund’s smooth vocals. ![]() Their wall of sound is rounded off by a roster of experienced lead guitarists, Jay Graydon, Muris Varajic, Kristian Larsen, Pelle Holmberg and Daniel Rydholm, drummer Frank Nilsson, background vocalist Per Svensson and steel guitar player Tony Paoletta. Their first album ‘ X Marks the Spot‘ is melodic rock inspired with Rydholm playing keyboard, bass and rhythm guitar and Säfsund providing both lead and backing vocals along with some keyboard work. Just check out the cool “Run“ or the brilliant ballad by the name of “Race Against Time“.Review: Art Of Illusion – X Marks The SpotĪrt of Illusion is the brainchild of songwriter Anders Rydholm from the group Grand Illusion and singer Lars Säfsund of Work of Art. “X Marks The Spot“ definitely is one early highlight of the year. Perfect stuff for fans of LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM, LIONVILLE, ART NATION and CWF and from WORK OF ART and GRAND ILLUSION foremost, of course. Melodic Rock/AOR including some stylistic surprises with the amazing voice of Säfsund being the icing on the cake. So the genre is absolutely set although on some songs there are additional influences and elements from musical productions (“A Culinary Detour“ or “Waltz For The Movies“) or parts that are reminiscent of QUEEN. ART OF ILLUSION is a collaboration of the two Swedes Anders Rydholm (g/b/keys, GRAND ILLUSION, CODE) and Lars Säfsund (v, WORK OF ART, LIONVILLE, ENBOUND).
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