Reviews

French review
www.metalchroniques.fr/guppy/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=1328

Dutch review
www.fileunder.nl/archives/2008/04/simon_says_tardigrade.php

...Simon Says is influenced heavily by ’70 progression, with musical methods not far from ELP, Yes, or even early, Gabriel-era Genesis, although the ELP template is heavily in use along with a mix of Yes to balance. Simon Says apparently concludes a trilogy of a story with their latest album, Tardigrade. I didn’t know this as this is the first introduction I have had with this Swedish progressive band. An inability to provide continuity is likely to dilute the review somewhat, and for this, I apologize. However, I can talk about Tardigrade, and consequently, Simon Says, by my first impressions. I can also say that, after having heard Tardigrade, I plan to rectify the musical lapse. Tardigrade is a work of vast interest from several angles...
www.musictap.net/Reviews/SimonSaysTardigradeCD.html

French review
www.amarokprog.net/critiques_17455_18354.html

In collaboration with Galileo Records, ProgRock Records once again astounds the world with another Swedish act who may not be the most prolific in their career ("Tardigrade" is their third studio album in a 13 years time span) but consistently pay homage to the glory days of 70’s British progressive art rock. This five-piece love their Genesis and Yes, rolling out the Hammond organ and mellotron next to the celestial guitar lines, putting out a 10 song record full of spacious jams. Right out of the gate you are faced with the 14:43 "Suddenly the Rain", and later in the album you hit the close to 27 minute "Brother Where ‘You Bound" which is no relation to the old Supertramp epic of the same handle. Patience will be the name of this game when setting aside your full attention to get through the entire album, but I think the ardent fans will find plenty to slobber over...
www.imhotep.no/?did=9078566

German review
www.babyblaue-seiten.de/album_9022.html

Interview in English
www.lordsofmetal.nl/showinterview.php?id=2140&lang=en

Italian review
www.metalzone.it/recensioni2008/simonsays.html

German review
schallplattenmann.de/a116977-Simon-Says-Tardigrade.htm

Simon Says have this peculiar habit to show up with a new album every 6-7 years. "Tardigrade" is the 3rd release of these Swedish accomplished musicians, in which they continue narrating the story of Simon. Who is he? In "Paradise Square" Simon -the main character- was searching for God through a dream. In the present Simon, who is now reborn as Tardigrade, is trying to adjust to an unknown and also hazardous new world. Yes, a concept one. Although Genesis seem to dominate the overall sound, they are not plain imitators. In fact, Simon Says have a personality of their own, as the sound is enriched with 2 keyboardists (quite a paradox) and the songs" structure varies either in length (songs from 30 sec to 25 min) or in development. Their influences don"t stick to Genesis alone, but range from Camel to Yes and from Flower Kings to Tangent. Hammond organ and mellotron often appear to remind us that their true love is 70s progressive rock...
www.metalperspective.com/reviews/simonsays.php

...Both of their earlier efforts; Ceinwen(1995) and Paradise Suare should be checked out, however 6 years after their previous album the band's latest album, Tardigrade is the absoloute peak so far. Tardigrade is a very strong conceptual, symphonic neoprog opus that runs over 10 tracks. The album concludes the story of Simon, now reborn as the anti hero and against-his-will-become-revolutionary Tardigrade in a tough society. This is classic,vintage prog at it's very best; tons of mellotrons,synths and hammond organ by Stefan Renström (Egg, The Moor) and Magnus Poulsson, excellent vocals by Daniel Feldt, drums by Matthias Jarlhed (Valinor's Tree) and guitars and percussion by Jonas Hallberg...
www.silverdb.com/MUSIC_DBCDInfo.asp?txtCDID=25345

Portuguese review
fenixwebzine.blogspot.com/2008/05/simon-says-tardigrade-2008-progrock.html

German review
www.musikansich.de/review.php?id=5266

...With 74 minutes Tardigrade is quite a chunk of music. Fortunately I am on a special prog diet and this is exactly what the doctor ordered. Personally I think Tardigrade should be in anyone's music collection. Some 15 years ago I discovered prog and when I listen to this album, I remember why I love this music so much. Tardigrade will definitely be in my top 10 over 2008, maybe even in my top 5, as it has been a really long time since I heard an album as beautiful as this is, with so much to explore. You will hate yourself if you don't listen to this album!
www.progressiveworld.net/html/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=3425

Swedish proggers Simon Says return with the third album in their continuing narrative of Simon, a character apparently reborn as Tardigrade and adjusting to the unknown and hazardous new world around him. But if all of this sounds too overblown and pompous then fear not, for here is an album you can appreciate for its musical virtuosity without having to really worry too much about the underlying concept. With a heavy dose of Hammond and Mellotron courtesy of not one but two keyboardists, much of Tardigrade owes a debt to the 70's prog giants, with Trick Of The Tail / Wind and Wuthering era Genesis being the most obvious reference point. But this is not an album totally rooted in the past and fans of The Flower Kings and early Spock’s Beard will also find much of interest here...
www.hardrockhouse.com/NewReleases/SimonSays.htm

Well I guess the Swede´s rule the progressive circuits these years, it is quite impressive and amazing, how many brilliant bands and album releases we have seen these last many months from our scandinavian brother country!! Not only that, the quality of these superb band´s music are very high !! This new and third album from Simon Says are no exception, in fact I think it is a masterpiece!! Creating the very essence and spirit of the 70´& early 80´ sound of greats such as Genesis, Marillion, yes... plus a healthy dose of fellow countrymen Flower Kings new approach to the sound of modern day progressive rock! You get it all in one package and with the running time of some 74:10 minutes, this is pure gold for every serious progcollector!! This excellent album comes with satisfaction guarantee for lovers of vintage instruments & sounds...
www.progplanet.com/index.php?categoryid=45&p2_articleid=692

...Looking back on what I’ve just written, it seems at times that I’ve been rather critical of an album which I do quite enjoy – perhaps to an extent this is a reaction against the reviews of this album I’ve seen to date; these have all been overwhelmingly positive. Whilst there’s plenty to be positive about – particularly the two epics – there are areas to be critical of too – personally I feel the band lean just a little too close at times to the mid-seventies Genesis sound, and perhaps haven’t really found their ‘own’ sound quite yet. There are also a few tracks which seem structurally a little weak – As The River Runs being the main culprit. That said, there’s no doubt that if you are partial to a bit of symphonic neo-prog Simon Says have produced an album that is highly likely to be a desirable purchase.
www.dprp.net/reviews/200826.php#simonsays

...The music of Simon Says will easily appeal to fans of bands such as IQ or Spock’s Beard or anyone into classic symphonic progressive rock. The music on Tardigrade mixes heavily orchestrated symphonic moments with quirky counterpoint, blending the electric with the acoustic, shifting the music’s tempo up and down to suit the story telling. As on their previous outing the music is at once familiar and yet somehow new and fresh. This is a no-brainer must-add to the CD collection and easily of my favorites so far in 2008.
dvdivas.net/ProgVoices/S/simonsays-tardigrade.html

German review
www.metal-district.de/cdkritik-4460-simon_says-tardigrade.html

German review
www.babylonmagazine.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3046&Itemid=0

French review
www.amarokprog.net/albums_18354.html

Italian review
www.kronic.it/artGet.aspx?aID=2&sID=16703

...You can never have enough progressive rock, and this 74-minute opus is a great addition to the record collection. Simon Says actually succeeds where many bands who try this style fail. When The Flower Kings did this style with The Sum of No Evil, they lost the steam they had with their previous record and ended up making something that sounded more like a typical Flower Kings release (still, gotta love 'em!)... Simon Says, on the other hand, really hit the nail on the head with Tardigrade. It's a great record that delivers every aspect that a prog-head could desire.
www.maelstrom.nu/ezine/review_iss64_4890.php?sid=672a45c93baff32f77a84542f63a83da&section=3

...The nearly 15-minute opener "Suddenly the Rain" exemplifies the band's masterful adaptation of classic progressive rock, with guitars that sprout and slide a la Steve Howe (parenthetically, the man's terrific slide guitar sounds are often neglected, and Simon Says' guitarist does a wonderful job reminding how crucial these are to the royalty of the end result), and keyboards that at times sound majestic in a Yes fashion and at others lead the way with a more dramatic vibe in the Genesis vein. The vocals on this track are clearly Peter Gabriel-inspired and deliver the drama well...
www.maelstrom.nu/ezine/review_iss63_4810.php?sid=672a45c93baff32f77a84542f63a83da&section=3

... Fans of 70's symphonic rock in general and Genesis in particular might receive a lot of pleasure from this release. People with a soft spot for the Hammond organ should also consider checking this one out, as there are quite a few goodies for that particular crowd on this album.
www.progressor.net/review/simon_says_2008.html

...Both of their earlier efforts; Ceinwen(1995) and Paradise Suare should be checked out, however 6 years after their previous album the band's latest album, Tardigrade is the absoloute peak so far. Tardigrade is a very strong conceptual, symphonic neoprog opus that runs over 10 tracks. The album concludes the story of Simon, now reborn as the anti hero and against-his-will-become-revolutionary Tardigrade in a tough society. This is classic,vintage prog at it's very best; tons of mellotrons,synths and hammond organ by Stefan Renstrom (Egg, The Moor) and Magnus Poulsson, excellent vocals by Daniel Feldt, drums by Matthias Jarlhed (Valinor's Tree) and guitars and percussion by Jonas Hallberg...
www.proggnosis.com/PGRelease.asp?RID=25345

Italian review
www.movimentiprog.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Recensioni&file=view&id=2695

French review
www.progressive-area.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=665&Itemid=2

...Beginning with “Suddenly the Rain,” a brooding vibe is immediately offered up, but tracks such as “The Chosen One,” the jam session of the aptly titled “Strawberry Jam,” and the title cut represent the jumpy & playful side to the band’s musical madness. In all cases, every progressive rock band does have the part of their personality where they do want to branch out, I mean this is a form of art-rock, so it’s gonna happen, but nevertheless, the band flexes their musical skills using another jam oriented approach on “Moon Mountain,” but this time it’s more laid back & semi acoustic; spacey elements are executed on “As the River Runs,” and a cut called “Circle’s End” has this horror move feel to it, which in reality and musically, is how you really haunt peoples’ mindset with the tuneage – in all cases Tardigrade is an album for all who pursue the traditional sound that jumps out at you with melodic gusto and technical fervor...
www.ytsejam.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=1421

French review
www.musicwaves.fr/frmChronique.aspx?PRO_ID=2881

German review
www.home-of-rock.de/CD-Reviews2/Simon_Says/Tardigrade.html

...In an age where many prog acts try to outdo each other and see who can put together the most epic statement (which doesn't always work by the way) Tardigrade is a pleasant surprise, an album filled with bombast and pomp that doesn't wear out its welcome before the last song has finished. Instead, Simon Says have given us a lot of what we loved about the 70's, and then some. Well done!
www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=6267

...Conclusion? This album will fit in perfectly with people who like to hear classic prog. Lot's of good stuff happening on this album. You can hear one song from a download to make up your mind. For me? Yes it is and it would be a 8 on a scale from 1-10. Well done guys!
progressivemusic-ginfress.blogspot.com/2008/03/when-listening-this-album-it-feels-like.html

French review
www.musicinbelgium.net/pl/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=2645

Apparently the band Simon Says is a Swedish progressive rock band from the 1990’s. I had never heard of the band before, but after checking out this disc, I want more. What is it about Sweden and progressive rock? This is their third release and should be of interest to prog rock purists. There is really no neo-prog in this, although the sound is still fresh. These guys will certainly call to mind classic prog bands like Yes, Genesis and ELP. Fans of those bands will eat this up. It’s early in the year, but this will probably turn out to be one of the best prog rock releases of 2008...
www.musicstreetjournal.com/index_cdreviews_display.cfm?id=100543

Spanish review (nominated for best foreign album award)
manticornio.com/rock-progresivo/S/SIMON-SAYS/tardigrade.html

Swedish review
www.artrock.se/artrock2008/recension_2008_69.htm

German review
www.heavy-metal.de/?id=11729

Italian review
www.hardsounds.it/PUBLIC/recensione.php?id=4092

Gothenbourg's finest have put together a fabulous excursion of high octane prog on this their third album. Openimg with the 14:45 minute scene setting extraviganzor "Suddenly The Rain" it is obvious from the outset that band have fused all known prog entities and taken them to the wire. Early amphetamine driven Genesis meets Yes. ELP and King Crimson. This track is laden with extremely grungy sounding Hammond and fabulous Emersonesque synth swathes. Fabulous stuff! Tardigrade the second track is more in the Gentle Giant ilk and with the exception of the albums concluding flourish is one of the shorter tracks on the album. The the third song "The Chosen One" begins a little more lilting replete with beutiful Mellotron strings and acoustic guitars. It isn't long before the roller coaster starts up though and it's every prog heads dream. I can't think of anything negative to say about this album though i suspect it would be unacceptable to those who believe that true prog stayed within the perimeters of the 70's and all else is just fake. Moon Mountain is a beautiful acoustic and electric neo classical piece which really lends a touch of class to the whole album. As The River Runs finds the band in full bloen opus mode again and has you listening to some classic analogue synth sounds. I am unsure if the majority af keyboards are soft synths or the real thing. What ever they are they had me fooled. I can only think that the incusion in the band of Magnus Paulsson in 2002 was an extremely good idea. All such responsibilities fell on the shoulders of founder member Stefan Renstrom before Magnus arrived. All would be forgiven for thinking that the seventh offering on the album "Strawbwrry Jam" has been an omissin from Yes's Relayer album,wow! Keep your hands inside the ride at all times. My favourite track however is "The Cicles End" which leads into the mighty 26:29 minute epic "Brother Where You Bound" which with the inclusion of "Beautiful New Day" conludes the story of Tardigrade. And if you fancy a Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Moment click on the Simon Says website www.paradisesquare.net and read the story in full. Art work/packaging, content and entertainment factor make this album shine. Shear unadulerated prog at it's most pompous best. An enjoyment factor off the scale. Go for it Progsters.
www.progmeister.com/reviews.php

Portuguese review
progbrasil.com.br/ExibeResenhas.php?eID=1018

German review
www.metal1.info/reviews/reviews.php?rev_id=2891

German review
www.obliveon.de/pn-om/modules.php?op=modload&name=cdreviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=11500