The Perfect Element, part I
Encyclopedia
The Perfect Element, Part I is Pain of Salvation
's third studio album, released in October 2000. It is a concept album
that focuses on the forming of the individual
, particularly on the events from one's childhood
and adolescence
. It is the first segment of a planned three-part concept. The Perfect Element, Part II was released in 2007 under the title Scarsick
.
Part one of the concept is a story human development, which focuses specifically on the progression from childhood to adolescence. It contains many themes within its context; which include but are not limited to:
All these themes are dealt with as the story explores the lives of two characters, one male and one female (known commonly as "He" and "She") who are broken, dysfunctional people. They meet in the events of the song "Ashes" after the first two songs of the album present us with a depiction of their troubled pasts ("Used" for "He" and in "In the Flesh" for "She"). After that introduction, the concept focuses on the inner struggles and feelings of the characters after the events on "Ashes", and we also have some memory flashes, telling us more about their pasts and revealing what events in their lives caused them to become what they are, finally ending with the "falling" of He on the last song, "The Perfect Element".
Chapter I: "As these two desolate worlds collide"
Chapter II: "It all catches up on you when you slow down"
Chapter III: "Far beyond the point of no return"
Concept, lyrics and artwork by Daniel Gildenlöw.
A Limited Edition has been also released with an extra cd including bonus tracks and multimedia application containing videos ("Ashes", "Exclamation") and additional material/information.
Extra CD:
Pain of Salvation
Pain of Salvation is a Swedish progressive rock band featuring Daniel Gildenlöw, who is the lyricist, chief composer, guitarist, and lead vocalist. Their sound is characterised by powerful, accentuated guitar work, broad vocal range, abrupt switching between heavy and calm passages, intense...
's third studio album, released in October 2000. It is a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
that focuses on the forming of the individual
Individual
An individual is a person or any specific object or thing in a collection. Individuality is the state or quality of being an individual; a person separate from other persons and possessing his or her own needs, goals, and desires. Being self expressive...
, particularly on the events from one's childhood
Childhood
Childhood is the age span ranging from birth to adolescence. In developmental psychology, childhood is divided up into the developmental stages of toddlerhood , early childhood , middle childhood , and adolescence .- Age ranges of childhood :The term childhood is non-specific and can imply a...
and adolescence
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
. It is the first segment of a planned three-part concept. The Perfect Element, Part II was released in 2007 under the title Scarsick
Scarsick
Scarsick is the sixth studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Pain of Salvation, released on January 22, 2007. It is a concept album focusing on issues dealing with capitalism, materialism, consumerism, and contemporary society as a whole. The album leaked on to the internet in its...
.
Overview
"The album is in a way a blend of the two earlier albums, with the groove and originality of "Entropia" and the focus, thoroughness and production of "One Hour by the Concrete Lake". However, it will be quite unique as an album."Analysis
The Perfect Element, Part I is the first part of a planned, three-piece concept, and is divided into three chapters, each containing four tracks.Part one of the concept is a story human development, which focuses specifically on the progression from childhood to adolescence. It contains many themes within its context; which include but are not limited to:
- Child abuse (sexual and physical)
- Sexuality
- Tragedy
- Drug abuse
- Love
- Pain
- Anger
- Loss (of life and innocence, among other things)
- Shame
- Regret
- Despair
- Inner struggles
All these themes are dealt with as the story explores the lives of two characters, one male and one female (known commonly as "He" and "She") who are broken, dysfunctional people. They meet in the events of the song "Ashes" after the first two songs of the album present us with a depiction of their troubled pasts ("Used" for "He" and in "In the Flesh" for "She"). After that introduction, the concept focuses on the inner struggles and feelings of the characters after the events on "Ashes", and we also have some memory flashes, telling us more about their pasts and revealing what events in their lives caused them to become what they are, finally ending with the "falling" of He on the last song, "The Perfect Element".
Track listing
All music and arrangements by Daniel Gildenlöw except the middle part of "Her Voices" by Daniel Gildenlöw and Fredrik Hermansson, and the "Once..." part of "The Perfect Element" by Daniel Gildenlöw and Johan Langell. String arrangements by Daniel Gildenlöw and Fredrik Hermansson.Chapter I: "As these two desolate worlds collide"
- 1. "Used" - 5:23
- 2. "In the Flesh" - 8:36
- 3. "Ashes" - 4:28
- 4. "Morning on Earth" - 4:34
Chapter II: "It all catches up on you when you slow down"
- 5. "Idioglossia" - 8:29
- 6. "Her Voices" – 7:56
- 7. "Dedication" – 4:00
- 8. "King of Loss" – 9:46
Chapter III: "Far beyond the point of no return"
- 9. "Reconciliation" – 4:24
- 10. "Song for the Innocent" – 3:02
- 11. "Falling" – 1:50
- 12. "The Perfect Element" – 10:09
- 13. "Epilogue" (Japanese Bonus Track) – 3:14
Concept, lyrics and artwork by Daniel Gildenlöw.
A Limited Edition has been also released with an extra cd including bonus tracks and multimedia application containing videos ("Ashes", "Exclamation") and additional material/information.
Extra CD:
- 1. "Beyond the Mirror" - 8:20
- 2. "Never Learn to Fly" - 5:10
- 3. "Time Weaver’s Tale" - 6:19
- 4. (PC multimedia track with videos, photos, interview, additional information/material and hidden area)
Band members
- Daniel GildenlöwDaniel GildenlöwDaniel Gildenlöw is a Swedish musician and songwriter. He is best known as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist for Pain of Salvation, a Swedish progressive metal band. In the band, he is the main songwriter, lead guitar player, and the mastermind behind each album's concept...
– lead vocals, guitar, producer, mixing, mastering - Fredrik HermanssonFredrik HermanssonFredrik Hermansson is a Swedish musician. He is currently a keyboardist and backing vocalist in the Swedish progressive metal band Pain of Salvation. He also works as a free-lance piano player and composer...
– keyboards, Steinway and samples - Johan HallgrenJohan HallgrenJohan Hallgren is a Swedish musician. He is a guitarist and backing vocalist in the Swedish progressive metal band Pain of Salvation....
– guitar, backing vocals, mixing - Johan LangellJohan LangellJohan Langell is a Swedish musician. He is best known as the former drummer of the Swedish progressive metal band Pain of Salvation.-Pain of Salvation:*Hereafter *Entropia...
– drums, backing vocals, mixing, mastering - Kristoffer GildenlöwKristoffer GildenlöwKristoffer Gildenlöw is a Swedish musician and songwriter. He is best known for his work as bass guitarist in the band Pain of Salvation, a band started by his older brother Daniel Gildenlöw...
– bass, backing vocals
Other
- Pain of SalvationPain of SalvationPain of Salvation is a Swedish progressive rock band featuring Daniel Gildenlöw, who is the lyricist, chief composer, guitarist, and lead vocalist. Their sound is characterised by powerful, accentuated guitar work, broad vocal range, abrupt switching between heavy and calm passages, intense...
– producer, mastering - Ander "Theo" Theander – producer, engineering
- Pontus Lindmark – engineering
- Mihai Cucu – strings
- Camilla Andersson – strings
- Petter Axelsson – strings
- Gretel Gradén – strings
- Johnny Björk – strings
- Daniel Gildenlöw/Gildenlöw MultiMedia – artwork
- Elin Iggsten – photos
- Johanna Iggsten – photos
- Fredrik Hallgren – photos