Description
Revival is the seventh studio album by the Swedish pop/rock band Edin-Ådahl, released in the US on Alarma World Music in 1991. (Revival is the English edition of Reser Till Kärlek, an album originally released on the Swedish gospel label Cantio Records the same year.) The album was recorded at Edin Music Studio in Gävle, Sweden; with the band producing and arranging.
Edin-Adahl’s stance on the album seems to take them into Aztec Camera territory. The title track itself is decent enough – Larry Norman influenced rock with all manner of background going on. Indeed this sets the scene well for the rest of the album. It’s almost teeny bop stuff on «Words Of Love» – and why does Booker T seem to be getting in on the act every now and again? Lovely song. After a couple of chug-along tracks («Heavenly Love» just shades «Temple») comes possibly the best lyric on the album in «Take Me Through The Tears» – super understated song. Edin-Adahl go true-blues gospel on «The Impossible Song» – a sure-fire concert, worship winner. Perkiest, brightest song on the set is by far and away «Let It Shine» which bounces along and will have you humming it for a few days at least, and then there’s «Forgotten Child», a reminder to us all that no matter how much we may like this album and the music and joy it holds, there are many other people who may never know any real joy. A set of great variety and further proof of the Swedish blue-eyed soulers’ growing reputation. [Chris Berry, Cross Rhythms, July 1992]
Edin Adahl – the Swedish brother team of Bertil and Lasse Edin and Simon and Frank Adahl – has long been a hard working band. ‘Into My Soul‘, the band’s last project, received much praise and respectable radio success. Now with a few kinks worked out – the language barrier conquered and production running on all four cylinders – the band has arrived with ‘Revival’. This band’s sound is wrapped in easy-going R&B, mixed with a satisfying dollop of rock and let’s not forget the ever-present Memphis-style horns that punctuate each tune with a crisp, perky edge. A large part of the project’s success is the band’s versatile ability to trade lead vocals.
The album still lacks strength in its lyrics. Perhaps this is due to a language barrier, but it leads to a frustrating habit to rhyme second or third verses like the hookey «Paradise»: “When the night begins to fall/ And it seems there’s nothing left at all/ Moment of darkness in despair/ I need to know that you really care.”
Conversely, satisfying is the Beatlesque ballad «Take Me Through the Tears». “Time will slowly turn your life around/ I should have seen the danger/ Felt the pain/ Come into my heart.” The tune brings to mind some of the heart tugging Allies ballads of the past.
‘Revival’ may or may not have the effect of its ambitious title, but if you’re in the market for a feel-good album, this is it. [Kathleen A. Ervin, CCM, December 1991]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/revival/950137998)
CD tracklist:
01. Revival – 4:28
02. Words Of Love – 3:45
03. Heavenly Love – 3:50
04. Temple – 4:02
05. Take Me Through The Tears – 4:00
06. Paradise – 2:56
07. The Impossible Song – 3:35
08. Act of God – 3:44
09. Let It Shine – 3:54
10. Forgotten Child – 4:00
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Alarma World Music.
A full-page advertisement for Edin-Adahl’s Revival was featured in the November 1991 issue of CCM Magazine.
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