Trond Řie - Expectations

(CD 2015, 25:05, Private Release)

The tracks:
  1- Expectations(7:56)
  2- To A Friend(7:00)
  3- A Strange Encounter(4:45)
  4- I Keep On Looking(5:22)






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Oh yes, I had expectations for this album! I never heard of artist Trond Řie before, and this album Expectations seems to be his solo debut. The sleeve looks very good and I really like the artwork that is used. The album is on the short side-only four tracks making the album 25 minutes long, so it's more of an EP. The music is OK, but there's not really something happening. It's more straight rock than progressive rock. The drums are straightforward, the guitars, bass and keyboard parts are simple.

The album opens with the title track which starts with an organ solo. When the vocals come in it's too loud compared to the sound of the band. The chorus is actually more country-like music. The instrumental bits are OK, but far from spectacular. The harmonica solo is not really something surprising. The second track To A Friend, is a melancholic song and is one of the better tracks with a good and long guitar solo. It's a track to jam on. It is followed by A Strange Encounter, which is a more uplifting rock track, and very straightforward. The disc ends with I Keep On Looking, which is a bleaker track, starting with keyboards and a harmonica. After two and a half minutes the track becomes more uptempo, but it's also a bit wobbly because of the change of pace.

A quote from the lyrics of the song Expectations: “I write my songs and I hope for the best”. Well, I'm sorry dear Trond, I'm sadly not convinced by your album. Two stars for your effort and an extra plus for the album sleeve.

**+ Iris Hidding (edited by Robert James Pashman)

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