Flame Dream - 1979 - Elements

(45:17; Eve Records [2025 Edition] )

Track list:
1. Sun Fire 10:02
2. Sea Monsters 13:39
3. Earth Song 6:56
4. A Poem of Dancing 13:12
5. Savate? Nose 1:28

Line-up:
Peter Furrer - drums, percussion
Urs Hochuli - bass, pedals, vocals
Roland Ruckstuhl - keyboards, tapes
Peter Wolf - vocals, woodwinds, saxophones, percussion


Prolusion.
Swiss band Flame Dream was formed in the second half of the 1970s, and for a decade or thereabouts they were quite the productive band. They released half a dozen albums prior to disbanding sometime in the second half of the 1980s. A few years back the band returned to action, and while there has only been one new album released by the band since then, they have also started to reissue the albums they created in their first period of activity. "Elements" dates back to 1979, and was the band's second studio production. With a reissue of this production appearing now in the late fall of 2025.

Analysis.
When listening to this album, the most striking association that comes to mind is that this is a band that were keenly aware of the big and influential bands from the English progressive rock scene. With a special affection for three of those in particular.

First and foremost we get a liberal amount of more dreamladen, carefully floating landscapes, which is a feature in most of the compositions here. With a sound, mood and atmosphere that I suspect most fans of Camel will find familiar sounding. But while this may well be described as a defining aspect of an album by many other bands, this isn't quite the case for Flame Dream. Nor is the fact that they play around with the more broadly appealing as well as occasionally the more expressive sides of a band like Genesis. That this is a band that, at this point in their career, pulled in impulses from both of these giants of the UK progressive rock scene isn't quite as defining as one might suspect either, as there is a bit more to the landscapes explored than merely these two facets. Even if both of them are important.

And here the third of the big names from the UK progressive rock scene is ready and waiting to be dropped into the conversation. And on this occasion the band in question is Gentle Giant. Vocal harmonies and off kilter arrangements more in line with some of the more expansive tendencies of that band is the third dimension to the landscapes explored on this album, and the combination of impulses from these three bands do create some rather intriguing experiences it has to be said. Dreamladen landscapes with off kilter side steps and occasionally grandiose and majestic surges.

There are a few more elements that Flame Dream brings to the table here too. A little bit of jazz and jazzrock for starters, but we also have a recurring use of wandering piano motifs that comes with a little bit more of a classical music intent and orientation, both of which does expand the boundaries of the landscapes explored a bit. That opening cut 'Sun Fire' also incorporate some odds and ends that may have been pulled from the legacy of Isao Tomita probably merits a mention as well, and while these tendencies doesn't play any big role here, they do indicate a band that are more expressive and inclusive than what one might get the impression of on a more superficial inspection.

At last I'll have to mention the brief concluding 'Savate? Nose!', as this short and charming affair came with some strong associations towards the album "Giant for a Day' for me, and the song 'Spooky Boogie' in particular. An association that may well be accidental, but that this brief conclusion is a charming one comes across as very much a planned effect. And, perhaps, also a token of the band's slightly whimsical side playing out at the end there.

The main possible drawback for this album, besides some associations that may be too close to the possible source material for some, is that the vocals are  a little bit off, in a manner if not similar to then at least comparable to Eloy's Frank Bornemann. Accented, and a voice it may take a little bit getting used to for some.

Conclusion.
While Flame Dream as of 1979 doesn't come across as a band that broke down any stylistic boundaries, they did combine elements from quite a few different sources and directions into quite the compelling and at times somewhat unpredictable totality. Dreamladen and careful,  complex and majestic as well as expressive, quirky and off kilter. For my sake I do find this to be quite the solid album, one that hasn't been all that much dated by the decades that have passed since it was first released. With my opinion being that those who tend to love and cherish the 70's output of Camel, Genesis and Gentle Giant on equal measure to be regarded as something of a key audience for the landscapes explored on this production.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, November 2025 

Links:
https://flamedreammusic.com/