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Arbogast: Certainties and Doubts

Alternative/Melodic Rock

Rating: 3.75/5.0

Arbogast Records
www.arbogast.se
www.myspace.com/arbogastrockbov
Review: Craig Hartranft,  02.22.2010

Arbogast is the solo musical adventure of talented Swedish musician and songwriter Svante Widerstrom. Certainties and Doubts, his second full-length album, is a genuine stream of consciousness work, a characteristic of true individual expression. Often hard to define or pin down, the music on this album is clever, creative, and disturbingly entertaining. Certainties and Doubts is disturbing because it seems aimless and eclectic. Conversely, this could be its definitive theme.

A common thread is the diverse and varied arrangements which are simultaneously inventive, delightful, and inaccessible. Steal Me Some Luck, Stay Up and Talk to Me all Night, or Beckomberga are songs that impress, but also make you ponder both Widerstrom's certain skills and doubtful musical direction. At times, Widerstrom reminds me of Tonio K. (if you don't know him, look him up), without the rapier-like social commentary and invective wit. Another common theme, and possibly the most satisfying element of Certainties and Doubts are the masterful and inventive guitar solos from Widerstrom and collaborator Jonas Hjortstam as discovered on Psychomath, Steal Me Some Luck, or Applause to You.

While I doubt whether Svante Widerstrom's Arbogast and Certainties and Doubts will be pulled from my shelf and played again, this is a creative and clever work from a talented musician and songwriter.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

While I doubt whether Svante Widerstrom's Arbogast and Certainties and Doubts will be pulled from my shelf and played again, this is a creative and clever work from a talented musician and songwriter.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]