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Jono: Requiem

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Musicano Records
Released: 2013
Time:
 41:31
Category: Progressive Rock
Producer(s): Stefan Helleblad, Johan Norrby, Johan Carlgren
Rating:
Media type: CD
Web address: www.jonotheband.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2015
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] I Was The One (Johan Norrby) - 3:48
[2] Judgement Day (Johan Norrby) - 5:20
[3] Letting Go (Johan Norrby) - 6:00
[4] Nothing (Johan Norrby) - 3:59
[5] Symphony (Johan Norrby) - 4:00
[6] Best Thing (Johan Norrby) - 4:05
[7] Requiem (Johan Norrby) - 6:10
[8] Dead Or Alive (Johan Norrby) - 3:47
[9] Love Again (Johan Norrby) - 4:15

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Johan Norrby - Lead Vocals, Keyboard, Producer
Johan Carlgren - Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Producer
Stefan Helleblad - Guitar, Backing Vocals, Engineer, Mixing,
Nicka Hellenberg - Drums, Percussions
Janne Henriksson - Bass, Backing Vocals

Sarah Carlgren - Backing Vocals on [2]
Roger Gustafsson - Lap Steel on [2]
Rickar Hellgren - Violins
Jesper Jacobson - Backing Vocals on [6,8]
Fredric Lytholm - Additional Guitar on [4,5]

Patrik Ohlson - Engineer
Steve Fallone - Mastering
Johan Calgren - Cover Art, Layout
Nicka Hellenberg - Photography

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


2013 CD Musicano Records MUCD019


Jono is a Swedish rock band that was formed by singer, keyboard player and composer Johan Norrby. He already released a solo record in 2006, an album which featured musicians that are nowadays his fellow band members. After this release, he decided to go for a band project which would include those who had helped him recording his album. He named the band after the first two letters of his first and last name. Two of his band names are already known in the music business. Guitarist Stefan Helleblad is also a member of Within Temptation and drummer Nicka Hellenberg played the drums on their latest album The Unforgiving (2011). Furthermore, the band includes keyboardist Johan Carlgren and bassist Janne Henriksson.

The fruits of the collaboration between those musicians can now be heard on their debut Requiem, an interesting sounding album on which all of the songs were written by Johan Norrby himself. Throughout the entire album you can hear that he most of all, likes to write songs that have a lot of pathos, passion and drama. Therefore it is not so difficult to hear that he must have been inspired by acts such as Queen, Mika, Robby Valentine and Valensia- all acts that have the same kind of singer that just sounds like Johan when he sings in the higher regions. They also include a lot of pathos, passion and drama in the music they released, music that was most of all written and performed on the piano just like Mr. Norrby probably did. The nine songs on Requiem display a fine combination of progressive rock, rock and pop. All of them are very much worth listening to and are sometimes related to the music which bands such as Europe, Supertramp, Toto, The Sparks and Muse have released on their albums. However the ultimate highlights on this album were for me the title track and Symphony, which are very bombastic pieces of music with many beautiful orchestral parts and melodic guitar playing.

Without a doubt, Jono could be proud of this very professional sounding debut. Those who like the music made by the acts mentioned above should try this album without hesitation. They probably will enjoy it as much as I did!

Henri Strik
www.backgroundmagazine.nl




Prolusion. The Swedish band JONO started out as the solo project and creative vehicle of composer and musician Johan Norrby back in 2006, and an initial album was released under that moniker back then. Since then Jono has evolved into a real band. "Requiem" is the second full length album by Jono, released through the Swedish label Musicano Records in the summer of 2013.

Analysis. In the never ending discussion about whether or not a specific artist or a specific album merits a description as progressive rock, Jono is a band I suspect most would describe as residing outside of this particular universe. Not too far away and most certainly close to the border at times, but by and large a band not quite complex or challenging enough to be universally recognized as belonging in this context. A feature that may alienate a few of the more dedicated progressive rock fans is that the songs, by and large, are fairly catchy too, with plenty of singalong type chorus sections. The nine songs presented tend to alternate between two different kinds. On one hand we're treated to harder edged, smooth and catchy songs with a sound and approach that inspires associations to hard rock, AOR and glam metal. Catchy riff structures, playful subtly flamboyant guitar soloing, catchy chorus sections and, mostly, a fairly conventional compositional structure as well. The other kind of the songs presented are dampened, melancholic creations revolving around a piano motif, either starting out as ballads and evolving, sticking to a purebred ballad style or songs that have the piano ballad as a stylistic foundation that has been built upon. Ranging from straightforward, predictable construction carried by the lead vocals to more elaborate ones that probably would make a good case as far describing them as progressive rock is concerned. What ties these alternating and at times fairly different compositions into a whole is the subtly dramatic, theatrical flair utilized throughout. Effective use of symphonic textures, careful but distinctly dramatic alterations and developments as well as unexpected ones. As well as the lead vocals. Norrby has a theatrical mode of delivery, in a good way I might add, and his timbre alongside that makes it impossible to not mention Freddie Mercury. Especially in the compositions based on the piano one way or the other there's a strong presence of Queen and the late Freddie. If that is a strength or a weakness is a point that might merit a discussion; the main issue for me is that his voice works in these compositions. Norrby carries a song with ease, is skilled at conveying emotions and knows well how to add tension by way of alternating the intensity of his delivery too. All crystal clear and finely controlled. The end result is a highly entertaining and extremely well made album. Easy to like and easy to enjoy, with some nifty sophisticated details that pop up on occasion enriching the experience for those accustomed to music of a more complex and challenging nature. Just about perfectly mixed and produced too, further elevating the end product.

Conclusion. While Jono's second album "Requiem" may not be regarded as a progressive rock album per se, it is an extremely well made production of the kind that easily merits a description as fairly sophisticated and accessible hard rock. As far as references go, the lead vocals, as well as some theatrical flairs and occasional arrangements and lead motifs, emphasizing that association, Queen and Freddie Mercury are names that come naturally as far as associations go. I suspect the greater majority of fans of those will highly enjoy this album, as will those who know how to appreciate well made, melodic and catchy sophisticated hard rock in general.

Olav M. Bjornsen - March 20, 2014
www.progressor.net




Another great musical discovery from Sweden. Jono are centred around vocalist Johan Norrby who is joined by Within Temptation guitarist Stefan Hellebald and drummer Nicka Hellenberg, who appeared on the last Within Temptation album. Completing the line-up are Johan Carlgren on keys and Janne Henriksson on bass.

Simply put if you’re a big fan of Queen in all their pomp this album will be right up your street. You have the musical feel to the pomptastic opener ‘I Was The One’ and ‘Judgement Day’ keeps the pace going, reminded me a little of Foxy Shazam.The gospel choir midway through takes the song to a whole new level. ‘Letting Go’ is pure Queen balladry, from the Freddie like vocal delivery through to the slow burning Brian May-like guitar solo, wonderful stuff.

Songs like ‘Symphony’ and ‘Nothing’ have the symphonic feel of Within Temptation mixed with the band’s own melodic touches. The pomp of ‘Nothing’ recalls another Queen lover Robbie Valentine. In fact get Valentine to co-write some songs on their next album and it could be a five star release!

Very pleasant surprise and hopefully it will get the recognition it deserves. Only slight drawback is that the album is ballad heavy and a big guitar led rocker (in Queen terms a ‘Hammer To Fall’ or ‘Tie Your Mother Down’) would have really shaken the album up a little. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Jason Ritchie
Get Ready to ROCK!
 

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