SNAKE CHARMER - Smoke And Mirrors [Japan edition] (1993)

Swedish superb vocalist Pete Sandberg is not a stranger to this blog as he has been featured as solo artist or as part of different bands, like this SNAKE CHARMER and their album "Smoke And Mirrors" (posted here in 2007!).
Put together by bass player Per Stadin (Silver Mountain) in 1991 including terrific drummer Anders Johansson (Yngwie, Stratovarius), guitarist Sven Cirnski (Bad Habit) and with Sandberg (Alien, Madison, Midnight Sun) as frontman, this Scandinavian super-group recorded their debut "Smoke And Mirrors" in Malmo, Sweden.

The song melodies are pretty simple, but awesomely arranged and performed. The music goes in the Scandi AOR vein mixed with traditional Melodic Hard Rock, compared with bands like Alien, Madison, Bad Habit, etc.
Just check the quality of "Runnin' On Empty" (very Alien), the rocking "Teaser, Pleaser", the elegant midtempo "Like an Arrow" or the terrific ballads "Middle of Nowhere" and "Alone Without You" (this one alone worth the entire disc).



SNAKE CHARMER is an underrated and pretty unknown Swedish project and this "Smoke And Mirrors" ranks among the best Melodic Rock / AOR created in Sweden during the '90s.
This is the Japanese Edition (no bonus track) ripped at max quality including artwork.
Very Recommended.


01. Worlds Apart
02. Runnin' On Empty
03. Middle of Nowhere
04. Heart on Hold
05. Highway of Love
06. Teaser, Pleaser
07. Like an Arrow
08. Stone Cold
09. Alone Without You
10. Eleanor Rigby

Pete Sandberg - lead & backing vocals
Sven Cirnski - guitars
Per Stadin - bass
Anders Johansson - drums
Jens Johansson (Yngwie, Dio) - keyboards
Sonny Larsson (XT) - backing vocals




SNAKE CHARMER Smoke And Mirrors [Japan edition]
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SAND & GOLD - Remember My Name (1997)

Requested several times, this is a re-post from years ago because this wonderful album is really hard to find.

Swedish singer Pete Sandberg is one of my favorite vocalists, and through his career has lent his talents to ALIEN, MADISON, SNAKE CHARMER, MIDNIGHT SUN as well as solo artist. His vocal dexterity allows him to sing in any style, and always greatly.
In the mid-nineties Sandberg meets Jonas Reingold, and the pair eventually became very good friends and wanted to start a band in which to focus their musical appetites: MIDNIGHT SUN.
While the group were put together, they decided to record a handful of songs composed long time ago that would have no place into their new band style.
The duo cleverly baptized this project "SAND & GOLD" (Pete SANDberg & Jonas ReinGOLD).

Indeed, the album entitled "Remember My Name" is far from the edgy hard rock Midnight Sun was preparing, instead you find here lots of acoustic guitars mixed with electric, many Wurlitzer keyboards, relaxed drumming / percussion and where, of course, Sandberg's voice is 'the big star' on the record.
These are songs with great melody and emotion in a typical Scandinavian style, think BAD HABIT unplugged or why not, EUROPE. There's also some American mid-western influences too.

Though "Remember My Name" was almost entirely recorded by themselves, some friends contribute with their talents: Kee Marcello (EUROPE), with a cool electric guitar solo on track 11, Johan Glossner (GRAND ILLUSION) on guitars, and excelent session drummer Rasmus Kihlberg (LA Project feat Bill Champlin, PETER FRIESTEDT, and more).



"Remember My Name" is a very, very good album, solid and organic. It's a melodic collection of songs performed from the heart with an excellent production. Released by a small Danish label back in the day, it has become a really hard to find piece.
Delicious.


01 - Sha Na Na
02 - Remember My Name
03 - Fishermans Creek
04 - When the Hammer Falls
05 - The Place
06 - Brooklyn Town
07 - Never Walk Alone
08 - Patricia
09 - Back on the Road
10 - Searching
11 - Slow it Down
12 - Crossroads

Pete Sandberg - Lead and Backing Vocals
Jonas Reingold - Electric Bass, Contrabass, Keyboards, Programming, Backing Vocals
Additional musicians:
Kee Marcello - Slide (Track 3), Guitar Solo (Track 11)
Johan Glossner - Guitar
Rasmus Khilberg - Drums
Tomas Pettersson - Organ, Piano, Keyboards, Wurlitzer
Inger Ohlén, Tomas Nyberg - Backing Vocals
Produced and arranged by Jonas Reingold




SAND & GOLD - Remember My Name
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MIDNIGHT SUN - Above & Beyond (1998)

First M.SUN album, great melodic hard rock festival.
Killer Peter Sandberg's performance, this time his voice sounds higher in the final mix.
Tremendous choruses, powerful sound.
Another brillant production.
Hard to find CD. Thanx to ritchie!
If you like it, BUY IT.

1) Above & Beyond (Intro)
2) Reality
3) Keep On Pushing
4) Deception Of Evil
5) I Believe
6) Don't Get Me Wrong
7) Tears In My Eyes
8) Kissed By An Angel
9) Bad Blood
10) Endlessly
11) Eye Of The Beholder
12) Hey

Pete Sandberg: Lead & Backing Vocals
Anders Theander: Guitars & Backing Vocals
Reingold: Bass, Keyboards, Additional guitars & B. Vocals
Jamie Salazar: Drums, Percussions & Backing Vocals
John Norum: Guest Guitar


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MIDNIGHT SUN - Nemesis (1999)

This is the first MS album with the Starbreaker, Allen & Lande mastermind Magnus Karlsson on guitar. Brillant as usual.
Pete Sandberg (Alien) does a great vocal performance, and the rhythm section and keys kill your ears and senses.
No fillers, all tracks are good, including Europe's cover "Seven Doors Hotel".
Hard to find CD.
If you like Allen-Lande albums, must have this one.

Nemesis
You And I
Mortal Man
Resurrection
King Of Broken Hearts
Conqueror
Watch Out
Dreams
I Don´t Know
Conceal
Living On The Edge
Ave Maria
Seven Doors Hotel
Innocent

Pete Sandberg: Lead & Backing Vocals
Magnus Karlsson: Guitars & Backing Vocals
Reingold: Bass, Keyboards, Additional guitars & B. Vocals
Jamie Salazar: Drums, Percussions & Backing Vocals
Additional Musicians:
Berrit Hessing: Cello
Hal Johnston: Guitar
Henrik Hanson: Keyboards
Jens Friis Hansen, Inger Ohlen: Backing Vocals



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