Von Hertzen Brothers - Love Remains The Same

The Von Hertzen Brothers or VHB as they are abbreviated come from Finland and they are indeed brothers. Mikko and Kie are both credited as “guitars, vocals etc.” Jonne is “Bass, Vocals etc.” and Mikko Kaakurinieme occupies the drum stool. Juha Kuopala completes the line up on piano and keyboards. This highly talented bunch of multi instrumentalists have achieved legendary status in their homeland with a series of highly accomplished releases covering a whole gamut of styles from hard rock to west coast and now with ‘Love Remains the Same”, Prog Rock. Note “Rock” not “Metal”.

This is progressive music in the classic sense harking back to the likes of Pink Floyd or Yes and contemporarily, Spock’s Beard. They have created nine epic and beguiling sound-scapes which are not only a joy to behold but make the album as a whole a profoundly satisfying experience. It is a rare release indeed which leaves the listener with a feeling of completeness after the final notes have faded; like a really refreshing drive in the country in the classic roadster you always hankered after.

The journey starts intriguingly with silence, a silence into which is introduced an organ (or it might even be an accordion!), very softly playing a theme not dissimilar to ‘Strawberry Fair’. The theme swells, grows and develops inviting you in as more layers of instrumentation are added. Gentle vocal harmonies caress your ears before another pause from which emerge an acoustic guitar and Hammond organ before the electric guitar joins and lends a David Byron era Uriah Heep feel to ‘Bring Out the Sun (So Alive)’ This whole opening track lasts for nearly eleven minutes and it is a flinty soul indeed who will not be completely seduced by the sheer taste and feel with which VHB imbue their music.

‘Spanish 411’ has, believe it or not a thoroughly Latin feel and even includes a trumpet section thus marrying progressive rock music to flavours akin to an Ennio Morricone composition. To speak of highlights is probably even more subjective than usual with an album of this calibre and scope. Not only will each track as a whole resonate differently from person to person but every song contains such emotional variety that the individual’s response will surely vary with every listen. From the hugely atmospheric ‘Somewhere in the Middle’ to the edgy rock of ‘In The End’ there are more moods and textures on offer in this one album than most bands explore in a lifetime.

‘Silver Lover’ runs the gamut of soulful sincerity with a juxtaposition of twelve string acoustic guitar and flute to crescendo in a flurry of optimism and the frank  emotional self examination in ‘I Came For You’ is nothing short of spine tingling. In the Von Hertzen’s own words: “From here there’s no returning … are you ready now?” Well, are you? The only way to find out is to take the journey and travelling with the Von Hertzens might just change your musical perspectives!