get your copy on CD here: www.sweetwilliam.de

Sweet William
Kind Of Strangest Dream (Re-released)
Infrastition

French label Infrastition has re-issued this hypnotic album, originally released in 1992 (Hyperium Records). It’s a perfect opportunity to discover it for those who didn’t have a chance to do it before. For those who already knew this album, it has been re-mastered and enriched with two bonus tracks. The album starts with a welcoming song, “Day of the open doors”. It’s a quiet, acoustic guitar introduction, but spoken vocals are dark and strong. Oliver Heuer is inviting you to discover a tortured mind, a journey that starts without further delay, as the track “Spring” takes you out of sweet lethargy. Yes, this is gothic rock indeed! Next track is “A creation of my thoughts”, one of the long, psychedelic/hard rock influenced tracks on this album. With acoustic parts, guitar solos and variations, it’s an extremely intense and interesting song. Gothic rock wonder “18.01.1991” has got an exciting guitar riff, and vocals are half-spoken, half-sung. Then comes “A new thought”, set in two parts. First part, “The inner dialogue”, a dark nursery rhyme, is used as an introduction to “the irony of it all”. The title of the album comes from the lyrics of this track, a delight for guitar lovers. As this remarkable 13 minutes-song ends, no doubt you’ll find yourself asking for more. “Sweet smile glow” is a more classic gothic rock song of its time and makes an interesting foray into tribal percussions. With spoken track “A Wednesday night/A Thursday morning”, the German band demonstrates its ability to create a mesmerizing, gloomy atmosphere, using only its frontman’s strong voice, together with some altered voices in the background. It balances perfectly the rest of the album long, over-instrumental pieces. Last track of the original release, “An offer (that can’t be refused)” is the perfect ending to this trip into this strangest dream. As a conclusion to this re-issue, two acoustic bonus tracks have been added. One of them is the acoustic version of “A creation of my thoughts” recorded in 2012.

I can only recommend this re-release to everyone. Oliver Heuer’s vocals give passion and intensity to the band original blend of gothic/psychedelic rock. Definitely a very interesting and fascinating album, it will take you deep into the dream, a dream you won’t forget…

Guillaume Renard



Sweet William zag het levenslicht in 1986 en is op heden nog altijd actief, zo verscheen in 2010 op het Franse D-Monic “Brighter Than The Sun” en op een ander Fans label, Infrastition, is nu een heruitgave van het conceptalbum “Kind Of Strangest Dream” dat oorspronkelijk in 1992 bij Hyperium verscheen, gelimiteerd heruitgebracht.

De groep begon ooit als een gothic rock band maar liet later, en dat is al hoorbaar op deze cd, een veel bombastischer en psychedelischer geluid na dan op de vorige werken. Een huzarenstukje waarop Led Zeppelin en Fields Of The Nephilim een paringsdans aangaan. Wat je krijgt is dan mossel noch vis, maar anderzijds is deze “Kind Of Strangest Dream” best een aantrekkelijk luisterstuk, zeker als uw voorkeur de hallucinante jaren ’70 rock en gothic rock wegdraagt. En al zullen ze niet bij bosjes rondhuppelen deze liefhebbers, ze bestaan, geloof me.

U krijgt op deze fraai verpakte heruitgave 2 bonusnummers en het nooit eerder uitgebrachte “Free Just Free” wat het totaal op 12 nummers brengt in plaats van de originele 9. Ik geef toe dat ik me persoonlijk beter kon vinden in het pure gothic rock geluid uit de eerste levensjaren van het Duitse Sweet William, maar de groep was en is niet te beroerd om te evolueren, op “Kind Of Strangest Dream” gaan de donkere gitaren en strakke ritmes het duel aan met psychedelisch gitaar plukken en geestesverruimende verhaallijnen.

(K. Ingels - darc entries, nl)


Sweet William – Kind Of Strangest Dream
(CD – Infrastition)

Posted on 12/02/12

Sweet William is quite a familiar name for all gothic and new-wave lovers. Infrastition has picked up this artist to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album “Kind Of Strangest Dream”. This CD was originally released in 1992 on the great German label Hyperium Records. This reissue is a kind of gift for all fans and those who didn’t buy the original version and an ode to Oliver Heuer (aka Sweet William).

The album hasn’t really lost its original splendor and part of reverie. Sweet William moves in between softer and ballad-like inspired songs on one side and harder songs on the other side. The guitar playing was one of the main characteristics of the release. Sweet William sometimes walks throughout endless guitar passages and solo parts. “A Creation Of My Thoughts” is one of the most noticeable cuts in the genre. I also like the half-spoken vocal parts on this song. Another remarkable cut in the genre is “An Offer (That Can’t Be Refused)” although I’ve to say this song also features psychedelic passages.

But I first of all remember this album for its softer and more ballad-inspired songs. One of the most noticeable tracks in the genre remains “Sweet Smile Glow”. I also want to mention the darker and poetry-like “A Thursday Morning (A Short Story Of My Mind)”.
The reissue of the CD also features 2 bonus songs. That’s a nice gift and attention for the fans, but to be honest with you not the most significant songs of the album. I think it would be a good idea to re-release some other Hyperium releases as well.

(Elise Din:7)ED.