In "The Astral Episode", Richard Andersson's Space Odyssey have a strong contender for album of the year. Long time readers of this website know what an appreciation we have for Andersson's music in Majestic, Time Requiem and Space Odyssey. We caught up for the second time in our history with the keyboard god for the best interview yet. This time we discuss the new album in detail and how Andersson found the stunning musicians that help bring his music from "Dream to Reality".

The Astral Episode has just come out in Japan and will be unleashed in Europe later this month. How has the initial press reaction been to it?
Well! It's too early to tell right now. I did get great response from Burrn Magazine 87 %.

How long did the composition of the album take, was it a joint collaboration with the other guys or is writing a personal solitude way of life?
I've written all the songs on my own. Me and Magnus did try to write a bit and the idea was to make the music more guitar based but Magnus is a full time BMW cars sales man and doesn't really have the time. So in the end I sat there on my own, writing the way I usually do, solo.

Who comes up with the lyrics and the vocal melody lines?
Me!

The band sounds extremely tight on every track, the band personnel is very strong. Although this is the second album with Patrick and Magnus, how did you initially hook up with them and how did you discover Andreas Brobjer?
I have known Magnus for many years and we go way back in times as musicians. We started to play together at the age of 13 and kept on for like seven or eight years. When I started with Majestic Magnus and me went separated ways. I started to develop my own style and Magnus went in to other things. Then we bumped into each other last summer at a café. I've always thought the metal world should be able to hear Magnus, this massive talent of a guitar player. Just listen to "A Perfect Day" on the album. Very few people can play that sort of sad vibrato with perfect timing. Magnus can do it with ease and just as good as Yngwie Malmsteen. Anyway, Magnus and I decided to jam in my studio. Soon it was clear we had the foundation for something great. "Let's do a record", we said. A different record compared to my other band, Time Requiem, as Space Odyssey is more progressive. I'd say the style we have is good old Rainbow mixed with Tony Martin period Black Sabbath and some early Malmsteen. Cool music that I personally would buy.

Magnus and I are both totally autodidact and have learned how to play just by listen to the music. Nowadays it's kind of rare musicians doing that.

I got a video from Andreas. I put the tape into the VCR and went shit, this guy can really play! I only need to hear someone play five notes to know if the musician in question is any good, and Andreas was far beyond very good. I remember playing the tape to Jonas Reingold, my co-producer, and he liked Andreas' performance too. I talked to Andreas and found out that we had a lot of favourite players in common.

What initially struck me about this album compared to Embrace The Galaxy was the more aggressive approach, along with a very live feel. Was this an aim and if so how did you go about creating this vibe and getting that across onto disc?
The biggest difference is mainly the production. On the first CD we had a lot of effects whereas on the new one I wanted a pretty dry, more acoustic sound because the playing stands up on its own big time. From the beginning when I mixed the album with Jonas Reingold I wanted no effects at all, but then the sound got too small. So we turned the sound just a little fatter and that came out great. I can imagine some fans reacting because the sound doesn't explode in that 80´s production way, but this is the way I like it.

The opening track Through Dreams & Reality really makes a statement of what the album is about. The way the intro builds is phenomenal before Patrick takes it onto a new level. What inspires these kinds of musical moments and what keeps your vision of your musical path fresh allowing gems like this to come out?
It's a bit of Dream Theater feeling over this song but the verses remind me of Ozzy. It's the first song I wrote for the album, you might recall I usually compose the songs in he actual running order of the album. I need to write the right type of opening track in order to set the direction for the rest of the album.

One of the main things apparent when listening to the album is that its more stripped down than your previous albums, in the way there is on first impression 1 guitar track, 1 keyboard track etc… was this intentional?
Like the old days. Lead guitar to the left and lead keyboards to the right! I assume it will sound pretty much the same live!

'Lord Of The Winds' is one of the most melodic choruses on the album. I view this track as a relative to Requiem For A Dream from Embrace The Galaxy, what was the thinking behind this track?
"Lord Of The Wings" is how Space Odyssey was supposed to sound when we started, like latter day Black Sabbath with Tony Martin, big and pompous with Cozy Powell's type of thundering drums. But then we ended up adding some Rainbow and Whitesnake influences too.

Magnus is absolutely smoking on 'Lord Of The Winds', how did you go about getting this and indeed the whole album's phenomenal performances out of him?
Magnus and I grew up together! We share almost everything together when it comes to music. We have tone language, the same vibrato and tone etc. We also share the same influences!

Dazzle The Devil will be absolutely stunning in the live arena. Are there any plans to take Space Odyssey out on the road in 2005?
It's all up to the labels and what they want us to do. Both Regain and King (records) seem to be interested in putting us on the road. But it costs money. We'll see. Me? I'd really like to play live now. I'm not gonna do another Time Requiem or Space Odyssey album for a while now. I wanna meet the fans.

Your solo on 'Dazzle The Devil' is truly phenomenal, the way you are holding the notes teasing the listener then using the pitch wheel for nuances made the hairs go up on the back on my neck. How do you approach a solo and was there anything in particular you were aiming for on this one?
Not at all! We both played as we felt at that particular moment!

What are your personal favourite moments of the album?
I remember this record as the funniest one to make. I have worked with people that I am very fond of. During the composing procedure Magnus and I had a lot of fun. I showed him a new song and we jammed around for a while before pre-recordings.

I know you are working on the re-recording your past material for the Andersson Collection, why are you doing this and what will the new versions offer?
Some of my old songs really deserve a better treatment! I have picked out some of my favourites and re-recorded them with other musicians that I am very fond of. Mr. Göran Edman (ex. Malmsteen, Norum) and Mr. Jens Johansson (ex. Malmsteen and Stratovarius).

I believe you contributed some keyboard work to Dushan Petrossi's Iron Mask's forthcoming album Hordes Of The Brave. How did you hook up with Dushan and what can the listener expect with that album?
I got in touch with Dushan by e-mail. He contacted me and asked if I could do some guest playing on his upcoming record. He seemed to be a very nice and polite guy so I agreed trying it out. Well! It's nice heavy metal with a hungry guitar player. Cool!

What else lies in store for 2005?
You never know! I always have loads of plans for the future! Top priority is to put Space Odyssey on the road!

Anything else you would like to add?
Really nice questions and thanks for promoting my music and me!!!

Richard, thank you very much for your time.
STAY METAL!!!

Official Richard Andersson Website