Musical Style: Melodic Rock	Produced By: Peter Carlsohn
Record Label: Jono Records	Country Of Origin: Sweden
Year Released: 2020	Artist Website: Peter Carlsohn
Tracks: 10	Rating: 75%
Running Time: 35:57

Peter Carlsohn is swinging for the fences with the summer of 2020 release to his Jono Records debut solo album Out Of The Blue.  Officially falling under the heading Peter Carlsohn’s The Rise, album finds the long term Jerusalem bassists trending eighties inspired melodic rock territory with strong leanings towards blues based seventies classic rock.  No, Out Of The Blue might not hit with the type of guitar authority to fall under the hard rock heading, albeit it gets quite assertive in places, but nor does it give prominence to the atmospheric U2 influences guitars to grace the previous two Jerusalem albums, Prophet (1994) and She (2010).

‘The Rise’ aspect to Out Of The Blue embodies the numerous guest musicians to appear.  Artist recruited Jerusalem drummer Michael Ulvsgärd in addition to keyboardist Svenne Jansson (Golden Resurrection), guitarists Stephen Carlson (Chakra) and Lars Carlsohn and co-lead vocalist Cutta John Kåre Gullestad (Cutta, Crush & Heartless). Alongside bass, Carlsohn also contributes lead vocals with a warm and rich mid-ranged style that at times hints of Larry Norman.  In light of the talent at hand, one would not be out of line to identify with Peter Carlsohn’s The Rise as an all-star project of sorts.

Album opens to its two best songs beginning with “Holy Ground”.  What we have is a classy example of catchy melodic rock, with artists jamming bass and affluent Hammond B3 standing alongside luxurious backing vocals in ample amounts.  Alluring refrain - Higher, Higher, on Holy Ground! - makes decided commercial statement.

I rate “Why” every bit high as a gritty blues rocker in similar vein as Stevie Ray Vaughn.  Added Hammond B3 stands out as does fitting doses of spicy, blues laced guitar licks and chops in line with the grainy mid-tempo aspect at hand.  Every bit melody driven, song brings a similar I would command radio airplay if given opportunity feel. Lyric snippet:

Never wanna look in the mirror
Just want hear You say
Don’t let the past be the future
Trust Your gonna be my way

Shine Your light
Guide my ways
Lift me high
You give me hope
I’m safe

Also good is “Sing The Song” with its up-tempo pop sensibilities within an agile and brisk framework.  Momentums is forward as it gets, as song races through its glorious verse sections on the way to a prodigious vocal harmony driven refrain.  An almost commercial essence arises in the process.

“Shine The Light” could not contrast more with its slowly moving, laid-back form.  A return to bluesy mid-tempo territory, song also resonates of the worshipful, particularly for the moving refrain to see artist reveal his smooth but moving mid-ranged vocal abilities.  Lyric snippet:

Under your wings
My hiding place
I will be safe
For the rest of my life

You guard my soul
I’m safe and sound
Rest peace and love
Love all around

“I Want It All” picks up pace with another lofty bass lie in yielding an underpinning sense of groove.  Astute and distinguished, the song commands as well an AOR tinged classic rock vibe with its earthy yielding and hook driven essence.  I particularly take to the slide guitar driven soloing.

“You Are My Life” pulls out the invigorating stops, forward and assertive with its enticing allure but also bottom heavy in impressing of the broadly woven and thickset, particularly from a low-end standpoint.  Ulvsgärd accordingly provides the steady timekeeping backbone.  Am I out of line to suggest hints of Can’t Stop Us Now era Jerusalem?  Lyric snippet:

Running on my own
Looking high and low
Try to stay the course
Let me find the road

You are my life
You are my way
You are the light
On the earth

Smooth worship rocker “Gloria” is another favorite.  At just under three minutes, it decelerates impetus to a near crawl in allowing a classical form with its viola and classic acoustic guitar.  Simple but not simplistic refrain is effective in form:

And I sing Gloria
And I sing to You
And I sing Gloria
And I sing to You

As albums heaviest, “Kiss From Above” touches upon hard rock.  Stephen Carlson and Lars Carlsohn take opportunity to cut loose but without forsaking the bluesy, as hard-edged rhythm guitar and bluesy leads combine to elevate the classic rock remnants.  I would not complain if Jerusalem took such a heading on any album it might record in the future.  Lyric snippet:

Take my hand
Lift me up
Guard my step
On the way to higher ground

Let me see the love in Your eyes
Let me see all Your love
Your love for me

And I know you are there for me
And I know you take care of me

Albums title track is lone cut in which I pass.  Perhaps the pop flavorings end up overemphasized for my taste (refrain fails to register with me) or the boogie flavored bent is done to fault, but with repeat listen “Out Of The Blue” does not grow on me in same manner as albums remaining material.

Out Of The Blue, nonetheless, ends strongly with plodder “The Dream”.  What we have is a laid back and ethereal piece, airy in terms of its guitars and reverberating keyboards but also calmly reticent when factoring the lightly done vocals and classical instrumentation.  The wave-like guitars closing the final seconds allow a fitting touch.  Lyric snippet:

I want to see
See the Promised land
I searched for so long
Let Your Kingdom come

A land full of hope
Full of rest and peace
A place to call home
Where I can be free

Best manner in which to describe Out Of The Blue would be a joining of eighties AOR and melodic rock with seventies influenced classic rock with a bluesy edge.  No, the album is not necessarily hard rock, but it still is a solid effort from the all-star formula to characterize Peter Carlsohn’s The Rise.  All the needed ingredients are otherwise in place: able songwriting, deft musicianship, competent production, and artist’s complementary vocal abilities.  If into the Swedish hard music scene or any styles contained therein, then Out Of The Blue should be on your list. 

Review by Andrew Rockwell 

Track Listing: “Holy Ground”, “Why”, “Sing The Song”, “Shine Your Light”, “I Want It All”, “You Are My Life”, “Gloria”, “Kiss From Above”, “Out Of The Blue”, “The Dream

Musicians
Peter Carlsohn - Lead Vocals & Bass
Cutta John Kare Gullestad - Lead Vocals & Backing Vocals
Stephen Carlsohn - Lead Guitar
Lars Carlsohn - Guitar
Svenne Jansson - Keyboards & Hammond Organ
Michase Ulsvgard - Drums
Malin Boqvist - Cello