So I just did some math, and added up the album-lengths of each of the 10 official TFK albums as well as Roine's The Flower King... and my total for all 11 albums (released over 13 years from 1994-2007), came to 19:40:05 (hrs/mins/sec). That's a LOT of music to release in 13 years.
Now when I did the counts, I added bonus tracks released on various release:
Retropolis-session outtakes: "Kite" and "Buffalo Man"
Flower Power: 4 Bonus Tracks on a Japanese release
Space Revolver: 5 Bonus Tracks on a Japanese release + 3-Song EP ("She Carved Me A Wooden Heart", "Space Revolver" and "Jupiter Backwards")
The Rainmaker: Limited Edition Bonus Disc
Unfold The Future: "Too Late For Tomatoes"
The Sum Of No Evil: Special Edition Bonus Disc
And by now, this is the longest break between studio albums - three years currently. Unfortunately, it might be another year or more til we see more TFK. With Roine being busy with AOM and the TA tour this year, and Jonas reportedly going to start recording a new Karmakanic album last this year, and Hasse Fröberg will probably want to tour for his upcoming new band's album, FuturePast by Hasse Fröberg and the Musical Companion. That leaves Tomas who, apparently has had some things going on with Roine, which may or may not have led to this unplanned hiatus... but I'm sure while the other Kings are busy with other projects, Tomas will (and hopefully) be working on his follow-up to YOU ARE, HE SHE IT IS with his "new band", Eggs & Dogs.
There's been a lot of hope at the official TFK message board that the Kings would reconvene later this year, but with Jonas' plans, I highly doubt it, and with as much as Roine likes to do and keep busy, I'm sure he'll probably want to tour for the upcoming Agents Of Mercy album (maybe tour with Hasse Fröberg too? That'd be nice!).
I *really* hope that Roine might at least consider releasing the recorded DVD from the TSONE tour a couple years ago with Pat Mastelotto on drums, just to tide over TFK fans this year. I'd buy it in a heartbeat since we haven't had a TFK release since 2008's Carpe Diem - Live In USA 2006. This leaves 2009 as the one of the few years (since 1994) without an official TFK release (1998 and 2005 being the others, but 1998 had Édition Limitée Québec, technically). I don't want to go another year without a TFK release!
-Marc.
-Marc.