Certain artists pop up from time to time, and their work is always a must-hear for me. Carl Westholm is one such artist, and he’s actually released two albums at the tail end of 2024 here, Bakelit and Hollingshead. The Bakelit album is called Asleep or Insane, and it released on November 24th.
Carl is the mastermind behind such projects as Jupiter Society and Carptree, and he’s known for his early work with Avatarium and Candlemass. He has a distinct footprint upon any album. The lineup on this album includes Carl on piano, organ, synth, theremin, vocoder, and backing vocals; Öivin Tronstad on vocals; Cia Backman on vocals; Lars Sköld on drums; and Ulf Edelönn on guitars.
This is a strange album, I’ll put that right out there. The band’s name “Bakelit” puzzles me — it could possibly refer to the synthetic plastic known for being hard and resistant to chemicals, but it’s spelled differently. The lyrical content on the album is equally odd, using heaven and hell as metaphors—at least I think they’re metaphors. Plus, Carl being Swedish, there are some of the lost in translation moments, such as the lead single “The Coolest Place on Earth”, which technically means a place that isn’t hot, but pop culture indoctrination makes it mean something else.
Despite all of that, this is a wonderful record. The band plays progressive rock, but with the Carl Westholm sound, which means eerie synth, dark electronic accents, unnerving vocal passages, and brilliant song structures. The album sounds haunting and full of soil and grime, but in the best way possible.
And that lead single? It’s amazing. “The Coolest Place on Earth” has one hell of a chorus that I can’t stop singing, and the groove is undeniable. “Remember Who You Are” is the second single, and it is just as memorable with its creepy group vocals and urgency. Then there are dark songs like “My Punishment”, a lyrically frightening and electronically heavy piece that revels in contrasts. And the album has only just gotten going.
Probably my favorite song on the album is the title track. This percussion-heavy song has such a memorable and melodic chorus, and I love the off kilter beat that dominates it. I also really like “Silence Is Weakening My Thoughts”, a piece with heavy electronica, pealing synth solos, and an irresistible chorus. The album closes with “Death Without Angels”, a sinister piece with a lumbering gait and filtered vocals. I love how foreboding and isolated it feels. The whole album is good to great, though.
Carl has another successful project and album, and I’m planning to review the new Hollingshead album soon, too. Asleep or Insane reminds me of the dark space of Jupiter Society with the grounded shadows of Carptree in tow, and I love it. Carl always creates the most horror-leaning sounds, always staying just shy of the genre in full, and the music is always thrilling. I hope you’ll give it a try.
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Find Bakelit online:
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The PROG Mind 