Time Frames is the latest release from Jonas Lindberg and The Other Side, the follow up to the well received Miles From Nowhere (2022). Well, if you liked that album, you’re going to love Time Frames. Much like its predecessor, multi instrumentalist Lindberg plays much of the music himself, but with crucial contributions from a cast of talented musicians and singers, and the results are very impressive.
Time Frames begins as it means to carry on, with a mini epic of grandiose proportions, and sums up what The Other Side do best; sumptuous prog very much in a Flower Kings or Neal Morse kind of style, with lashings of pomp, lush harmonies, and layers of keyboards and guitars. It’s called End Of The Road, and it all sounds rather splendid. The opening theme is typical wide screen stuff, setting the scene, before the vocals come in. The verses are handled by Jonas Sundqvist, the chorus by the contrasting voice of Jenny Storm, and the effect is pleasing. Long rich chords punctuate the verses, overlaid with twinkling synth, flashes of scything lead guitar from Calle Schönning, all powered along by Jonathan Lundberg’s relentless drums. As we rocket towards the finish, the expansive opening theme returns, as themes often do, and everything slows down to squeeze every bit of drama from the epic ending. Predictable perhaps, but somehow, very satisfying.
After all that excess, we need a more succinct and easily digestible song, and that’s what we get with the amusing Someone Like Me, which sounds like prime era Styx to me. It’s a rather sweet concoction, with lush harmonies, a happy disposition, and lit by a synth sounding like a piccolo, and violin from Conny Lindgren. Catchy, jaunty, fun, and concise for Lindberg at a mere five minutes or so.
Faces Of Stone falls somewhere in between, being epic in feel, if not length. Sundqvist excels with his vocal performance, whilst Lindberg hammers away at his array of keyboards with aplomb. The production is full and rich, with clever little details keeping things sparkling, like the momentary acoustic asides and contrasting crescendos.
This piece makes the point that sometimes less is more. I can’t really say the same for Galactic Velvet which seems to me to be rather longer than necessary. Jenny Storm’s voice on the sung verses are terrific, and the piece sounds fabulous up to that point, but for me it’s rather spoiled by three verses in the middle of self conscious spoken word mumbo jumbo. If that part was edited out, it’d be fine!
Gruvan on the other hand gets things right back on track with a superb instrumental runaround which flirts with Celtic sounding folk. Apart from Lindberg and Schönning on guitars, Nicklas Thelin and Joel Lindberg also contribute six string action, and it sounds dazzling. Lundberg’s drums are noticeably augmented by Maria Olsson on various percussion instruments, and the piece has a joyous swing.
Running Out Of Time features Lindberg himself on lead vocals, and he is excellent, proving that he could handle all the vocals himself if he so wished, though the contrasting styles would be missed. There are lovely acoustic moments sounding semi classical in style, but overall it’s another symphonic prog masterclass, with gorgeous harmonies, layered keys and frantic guitar embellishment.
So, having begun this journey with a mini epic, we obviously need a full on epic to conclude, don’t we? Of course we do, and that’s exactly what is in store with the seventeen minute The Wind. It’s a three part giant of a track, featuring all three lead vocalists at various points, and they really do combine and contrast beautifully. Again, it’s the detail which often delights. During the verses in part two, Lindberg adds delicious fretless bass which sounds perfect. Part three shifts up the gears, and Jenny Storm whips things up with some raunchy vocals followed by lush harmonies in the choruses. The main theme keeps reappearing like an old friend before the next round of guitar and keyboard theatrics. The final three minutes finds The Other Side sounding rather like Moon Safari, as the vocal harmonies knit together perfectly and we gear up for the ending, and Lindberg throws everything at it, but somehow it works.
So there it is, a typical slice of Swedish prog. Epic, grandiose, layers of keys and guitars, a stack of vocal harmonies, catchy melodies, dynamic production, and for the most part, a lot of fun to listen to. If you like the sound of that, you can’t go wrong.
TRACK LISTING
01. End Of The Road (12:47)
02. Someone Like Me (5:43)
03. Faces Of Stone (7:26)
04. Galactic Velvet (9:41)
05. Gruvan (8:24)
06. Running Out Of Time (8:00)
07. The Wind (17:31)
Total Time – 69:34
MUSICIANS
Jonas Lindberg – Bass, Keyboards, Guitars, Mandolin, Lead Vocals (2,6 & 7), Backing Vocals
~ With:
Jonas Sundqvist – Lead Vocals (1,3 & 7)
Jenny Storm – Lead Vocals (4 & 7), Backing Vocals
Calle Schönning – Electric Guitar (1,3,4,5 & 7)
Nicklas Thelin – Acoustic & Electric Guitars (1,4,5,6 & 7)
Joel Lindberg – Electric Guitar (5 & 6)
Jonathan Lundberg – Drums
Maria Olsson – Percussion
Conny Lindgren – Violins (2)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: Sweden
Date of Release: 7th November 2025
LINKS
Jonas Lindberg & The Other Side – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube
