Paatos- Timeloss (2002)

 

Finally an innovative group. A lot of my friends, although they dislike everything to do with rap, techno and other styles of recent music forms (I do too but can enjoy some French rap), actually thought that trip-hop was interesting because of the very expressive moods that bands like Portishead or the early Bjork. I thought that in the mid-90's, trip hop could present a form of evolution for proggers. As far as I know, this is the first album of its kind to exploit that direction and they have stricken gold right from the start. The moods and ambiances are simply beautiful as is Petronella who looks like she's coming from the northern part of Sweden and has got Lapp blood in her and in concert she made me think of the star from Iceland (Bjork), under the careful eye of hubby Huxflux, from behind his drum kit. On guitar, eine Fiske (of Landberk fame) adds up with his so expressive guitar lines this touch of almost divine background, while the other ex-Landberk Stefan Dimle rattles the bass guitar strings. Rounding up the quintet is Wallen on vintage keys.

The album seems to have at least a retro visual concept matching its title, the booklet pages showing illustration of outdated house interiors, starting with the Art Deco hotel hallway lift cage on the front cover. Opening on the excellent Sensor, starting on jazzy bass and electric piano, but once Fiske's guitar enters, the track veers superbly rock, with Petronella's voice underlined by trons of mello make a banner track, well worth the early 90's Swedish trilogy. The following and aptly-titled Hypnotique is a soft spellbinding track, lasting over 8-mins, with Petro on cello, again a superb load of mellotron washes and a guest flutist giving a haunting ambiance. Téa starts with Fiske's ever-recognizable guitar and this crescendoing track (not my fave, though) will become the A side (remixed I think) of their 45 RPM single. Fiske again opens They Are Beautiful, the weaker track of the album (IMHO, anyway), despite a superb clarinet (courtesy of the flutist mentioned above), but I find the track a little long.

Do overcome your prejudice and listen to the last track Quits, as it may set you back but if you listen carefully and are open minded, this track alone is worth hunting the album as it is mind-boggling and offers great possibilities for the group's future adventures. It is the most openly trip hop track of the album, but is the apex of the album. In concert, Quits was used to get you wilded up at the end of the set and makes you (and the rest of the crowd) beg to hear it again as the first, second and third encores.

Of course, the main deception was the album's short duration (less than 40 mins), BUT?.. The Japanese version of this album comes with two bonus tracks, thus bringing an extra superb 13 mins of pure bliss. Both tracks are without Fiske's guitars (he had already gone by then), but Nylander fills the shoes as if they were his. The 8-mins+ Ouka sounds like a superb quiet improv, but carefully controlled; while Otaku is definitely more chaotic and abstract, filled Petro's cello and weird electronic noises. Great stuff, well in line with Quits. Timeloss is definitely one of the 00's best albums and few albums of the 90's and 80's in the prog realm can come to its shoulder height. Think I'm exaggerating, uh? Get this album and quick! Try for the superb Japanese Mini-Lp version with the bonus tracks, if still available.Review from progarchives.com

Songs / Tracks Listing 

1. Sensor (5:11)
2. Hypnotique (8:32)
3. Téa (5:45)
4. They Are Beautiful (7:44)
5. Quits (12:17)

Total Time: 39:29

 Line-up / Musicians -

 Stefan Dimle / bass and double bass
- Reine Fiske / electric and acoustic guitars
- Huxflux Nettermalm / drums, congas, percussion, water, saw, triangle, programming

- Petronella Nettermalm / vocals and cello

- John Wall´n / electric piano, Hammond organ, Moog, clavia, Yamaha synths, mellotron, upright piano, Steinway grand piano, harmonium, sampler

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Kerrs Pink - Tidings (2002)

This veteran Norwegian prog band has a storied past with both the first self titled debut and the splendid sophomore Mellom Oss being fine prog-folk examples, led by the fluid lyrical guitar of Harald Lytomt. "Tidings" follows two adventurous and well-received releases (A Journey on the Inside and The Art of Complex Simplicity) and suggests a tad more conventional perhaps even commercial approach. The opener "Hour Glass" is pretty standard neo-tinged prog and is accessible enough for any fan but there is no real awe to wildly applaud. The lads do immediately get back to their folkish strengths on the inspirational "Tidings from the Distant Shore", a scintillating nearly 9 minute display of electric folk, with sweeping orchestral themes, delicate female vocals with male interventions, a propos marching violin, sizzling synths and a weeping guitar solo to finish the job. "Shooting Star" is a Freddy Ruud composition and thus strongly favors a variety of massed keyboards, a very deliberate piece that glows gently, set ablaze by a tortuous Lytomt lead solo, full of emotion and effect. The female backing vocals offer a soulful approach to counteract the male vocals that unfortunately grate unconvincingly. The longest cut here , "Yumi Yeda" is a welcome return to their more sophisticated style, showcasing exemplary melodies, allied with some inspired playing by all , even though the lead vocals are somewhat accented and weak. The guitar wails and weaves majestically however, providing another glimpse of how the instrumental prowess can be impeded by unconvincing voice work. "Moments in Life" conjures up strong Camel tinges with more lyrical guitar observations in a dreamy wash of keyboard colorations, again ruined by some wayward "American style funky-groovy" female vocals that plod on totally ludicrously, having little function other than to divert from the instrumental pleasure. Why? Next up, "Mystic Dream" is another near 10 minute piece that sails off at first assuredly, diving quickly into a sedate vocal segment, morphing into lung calisthenics that have no purpose and a fine solo section featuring both guitar and keys. Again, the same attributes apply, great musical parts raped by unpersuasive lead microphone work. Gratefully, the final track "Le Sable S'est Ecoulé" is an instrumental workout (using the oft-used Martin Luther King "I have a dream" quote as well as a JFK snippet) that demonstrates the tonal and technical abilities these vets obviously possess, preferring more experimental orchestrations thus clashing wildly with the previous material. In my opinion, their weakest effort by far, please chuck the vocalists and return to more conventional folk-prog singing and all will be fine tidings from then on. 3 Pink Grains of Sand. KERRS PINK Tidings music reviews and MP3 ( review from progarchivres.com)

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Hour Glass (5:32)
2. Tidings From Distant Shore (8:30)
3. Shooting Star (9:40)
4. Yumi Yeda (10:15)
5. Moments In Life (8:37)
6. Mystic Dream (9:46)
7. Le Sable S'est Ecoulé (5:38)

Line-up / Musicians - Harald Lytomt / lead guitars
- Freddy Ruud / lead keyboards
- Lasse Johanssen / keyboards
- Jostein Hansen / bass guitars
- Knut R. Lie / drums, backing vocals
- Lasse Tandero / lead vocals

Total Time: 57:58

Kerrs Pink Live 2002 - Point Blank

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Bo Hansson - Attic Thoughts (1975)

Make no mistake every track on this album is an absolute delight.

An essential swedish progressive by any standards which has the unique "Bo Hansson" sound. A near perfect atmpspheric mix of light and darker instrumentals which has numerous splendid complexities for further countless listens. A Classic!

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Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Attic Thoughts (5:30):
a) March
b) Repose
c) Wandering
2. Time and space (1:37)
3. Waiting... (7:34)
4. Waltz for interbeings (3:21)
5. Time for great achievements (3:11)
6. The hybrills (1:28)
7. Rabbit music (6:23):
a) General Woundwort
b) Fiver
8. Day and night (4:30)
9. A happy prank (3:15)

Total Time: 36:49

Line-up / Musicians

- Bo Hansson / organ, guitars, bass, piano, synthesizers, Mellotron, special f/x

Guest musicians:
- Gunnar Bergsten / saxophone
- Rune Carlsson / drums
- Mats Glenngård / violin
- Kenny Håkansson / electric guitar
- Göran Lagerberg / bass, acoustic guitar
- Thomas Netzler / bass
- Rolf Scherrer / acoustic guitar

- Finn Sjöberg / electric guitar

Bo Hansson Attic thoughts 08 Day and Night

Bo Hansson Attic thoughts 07 rabbit music

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Par Lindh Project- Gothic Impressions (1994)

Superb debut album from this Swedish outfit led by multi-instrumentalist Par Lindh.

If your into bands like "Anglagard" "Landberk" and "Anekdoten" then this will be an essential listen.

 With gothic cathedral church organ and rich sweeping analog sounds this is a classic atmospheric 70's progressive classical / rock recreation, culminating with the extraordinary "Night On Bare Mountain". An interpretation of the "Moussorgsky" classical suite which is brilliantly realised.



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Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Dresden Lamentation (2:06)
2. The Iconoclast (7:04)
3. Green Meadow Lands (7:24)
4. The Cathedral (19:33)
5. Gunnlev's Round (2:50)
6. Night on Bare Mountain (13:50)

Total Time: 52:54

Line-up / Musicians

- Pär Lindh / keyboards, bass, drums, percussion
WITH:
- Ralf Glasz / vocals
- Mathias Jonsson / vocals
- Johan Högberg / bass
- Björn Johansson / classical guitar, bassoon, Tinwhistle
- Magdalena Hagberg / vocals
- Anna Holmgren / flute
- Jonas Endgegård / electric guitar
- Mattias Olsson / drums, percussion
- Jocke Ramsell / electric guitar
- Lovisa Stenberg / harp
- Roine Stolt / acoustic guitar
- Camerata Vocalis / choir vocals

Pär Lindh Project - Gothic Impressions - Iconoclast - 1994

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Morte Macabre - Symphonic Holocaust (1998)

Dark swedish progressive made up of "Landberk" and "Anekdoten" members.

"Symphonic Holocaust" is something not to be listened to in the dark with it's full on mellotron drenched passages and dark scary intenseness. Pretty good stuff , especially for anyone who enjoys say "Goblin" and there horror film soundtracks!

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Apoteosi del Mistero (4:16)
2. Threats of Stark Reality (2:59)
3. Sequenza Ritmica e Tema (7:02)
4. Lullaby (8:02)
5. Quiet Drops (6:43)
6. Opening Theme (2:50)
7. The Photosession (7:10)
8. Symphonic Holocaust (17:51)

Total Time: 57:17

- Nicklas Berg (ANEKDOTEN) / Mellotron, Fender Rhodes, Theremin, sampler, guitar, bass
- Stefan Dimle (LANDBERK) / bass, Mellotron, Moog
- Reine Fiske (LANDBERK) / guitars, Mellotron, violin, Fender Rhodes
- Peter Nordins (ANEKDOTEN) / drums, percussion, Mellotron

Guests:
- Yessica Lindkvist / voice
- Janne Hansson / waves

Bo Hansson - Lord Of The Rings (1972)

What more can be said about "Bo Hanssons" timeless classic that has not already been said. This is wonderful beautifully atmospheric and colorful music.

The best pre - hollywood concept album ever!


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Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Leaving shire (2:47)
2. The old forest / Tom Bombadil (3:42)
3. Fog on the barrow - Downs (2:28)
4. The black riders / Flight to the Ford (3:48)
5. At the house of Elrond / The ring goes South (4:23)
6. A journey in the dark (1:07)
7. Lothlórien (3:22)
8. Shadowfax (0:50)
9. The horns of Rohan / The battle of the Pelenmor fields (3:58)
10. Dreams in the houses of healing (1:50)
11. Homeward bound / The scouring of the shire (2:11)
12. The grey havens (4:56)
Total Time: 35:22
This was also released as "Sagan Om Ringen" in 1971 in Sweden.

Line-up / Musicians - Bo Hansson / organ, guitar, Moog synthesizer, bass

Guest musicians:
- Sten Brgman / flute
- Gunnar Bergsten / saxophone
- Rune Carlsson / drums, congas

Bo Hansson lord of the rings-At The House Of Elron

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Kerrs Pink - Mellom Oss (1981)

A delightful album by the scandinavian "Kerrs Pink" which comes across to me like a mix of "Camel" "Pink Floyd"and "Samla Mammas Manna" at there best.

Rich melodies and excellent dialogues between keys and guitars etc make for a magic spellbindingly entertaining listen.

The fabulous scandinavian folk sound is brilliantly integrated with rock and although there are some nice vocals it's the instrumentals which are the most impressive. You will hardly hear the mix described better done than here!

The lengthy "Mens Tiden Forgar" is one of the highlights and has some really nice mellow flute passages and soaring female vocals. the later rockier guitar section for some reason reminds me of "Joe Walshes" "Rocky Mountain Way". Cool!

A fantastic band and album.


Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Mellom Oss / Between Us (5:36)
2. Tröstevise / Comforting Tune (2:56)
3. Tröstevals / Comforting Waltz(1:02)
4. Östenfor Ord / East of Words (6:06)
5. Hvem snakker til meg? / Who's Speaking To Me (5:29)
6. Elegi / Elegy (3:17)
7. Mens Tiden Forgar / While Time Fades Away (17:17)
a. Dråper / Drops
b. Haven / The Garden
c. Adams sang / Adam's Song
d. Fallet / The Fall
e. Evas Sang / Eve's Song
f. Mens Tiden Forgår / While Time Fades Away
g. Etterspill / Aftermath
Bonus tracks:
8. Marius / Marius (3:16)
9. Parademarsj for Jubilanter / The Last of the Sixth Formers (2:36)
10. Den Siste Russ / Ode to Olga (3:00)
11. Hyllest til Olga / Parade March for Jubilants (1:40)
12. Trömborg Samba / Trömborg Samba (3:27)
13. Fredsmarsjen / Marche de la Paix (3:15)

Total Time: 54:28

Line-up / Musicians Vinyl version:
- Harald Lytomt / guitars, flute
- Jostein Hansen / bass, guitars, vocals
- Halvard Haugerud / keyboards, bass, vocals
- Tore Fundingsrud / drums
- Trond Bøhn / keyboards, guitar contributed on two tracks before he quit.
GUESTS:
- Kirsten Hognestad Bøhn / vocals
- Lars-Thore Lande / bass
- Trygve Lahn / violin
- Chris Dankel, family and friends (hand claps and chorus)

Kerrs Pink Live 2002 - Point Blank

Kerrs Pink Live 2002 - Sirrus

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Ragnarok - Fata Morgana (1981)

The very rare masterpiece from Swedens "Ragnarok" which unlike there lighter previous album ( though a classic ) this is a scorcher with blistering guitar and brass with that unique swedish sound. Take "Fata Morgana" an unbelievebly heavy piece which sounds unlike anything else really in the jazz rock field. Totally unique and innovative while swinging in certain parts as on "Jatora Em Bak". Then there's the excellent "Vild Av Friden" a ballad like instrumental with gritty sax blasting away in a surge of emotive power.

"Leningrad 1 & 2 are probably my favourite tracks, beginning with gentle acoustic guitars and flute, but then becoming disquiting and more intense before returning to the opening theme. Then xylophone and a throbbing bass clash with rolling drums as the piece gets more intense and builds with fuzzed guitar screams and dirty sax colliding in a marching whirlpool of sound . Suddenly a melody breaks in and we reach the climax.

The heaviest is yet to come though in the form of "Elephanten Da Tagat" , another astounding track which pulls together all the elements of the whole album. Finally we go out on a more reflective note with "Eskapage"

This is truly an unbelievable album and one of my very top recommendations, especially if you like your jazz rock more innovative folky progressive and heavy.

"Fata Morgana" is in a style of it's own partly due to the very individual "Peter Bryngellson" guitar sound. Don't miss it!!



Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Midvinterblot I
2. Fata Morgana
3. Jatora em Bak
4. Vild av Friden
5. Leningrad I & II
6. Midvinterblot II
7. Elefanten pa Taget
8. Eskapage

Line-up / Musicians

- Peter Bryngelsson / guitars, keyboards, xylophone, bouzouki, glocken spiel
- Tomas Wiegert / drums, xylophone
- Kjell Karlgren / sax, flute, keyboards
- Per F. Andersson / bass, xylophone, glocken spiel, trumpiano
- Magnus Jarlbo / trumpet, flugel hron, keyboards

Ragnarok - Ragnarok (1977)

This first release from Swedens "Ragnarok" ( not to be confused by others of the same name) is their first and highly acclaimed release. Until recently i had only heard there "Fata Morgana" album which is far heavier and different to the one we have here.

With progressive rock and folk elements "Ragnarok" is very tranquil and spacey throughout with superb acoustic and electric guitar work. One can certainly hear some "Pink floyd" "Camel" in places and the folk elements are strongly "Flasket Brinner" styled.

There's also some really splendid flute and keyboards giving just a hint of "Jethro tull" maybe.

Add to this a top notch production and you have a fantastic album. If you like the aforementioned bands this is a must have!

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Farvel Köpenhamn / Goodbye Copenhagen (2:30)
2. Promenader / Walks (4:40)
3. Nybakat Bröd / Freshbaked Bread (3:01)
4. Dagarnas Skum / Foam Of The Days (8:07)
5. Polska Fran Kalmar / Reel From Kalmar (0:46)
6. Fabriksfunky / Factoryfunk (4:49)
7. Tatanga Mani (4:34)
8. Fiottot (1:23)
9. Stiltje-Uppbrott / Calm-Breaking Up (4:21)
10. Vattenpussar / Pools Of Water (4:08)

Total Time: 43:19

Line-up / Musicians

- Lars Peter Sörensson / drums
- Stefan Ohlsson / drums, guitar
- Peder Nabo / flute, guitar
- Staffan Strindberg / electric bass
- Peter Bryngelsson / guitars
- Henrik Strindberg / electric guitar, flute, Soprano flute, Soprano saxophone

Ragnarök from Sweden

Flasket Brinner ( 1971 )

Those into swedish progressive/folk/psychedelic rock should find much to enjoy here, on Flasket Brinners debut album which grabs ones attention right from the start. Don't let the obscurity of this album ( which it certanly is ) put you off, as this is an excellent work.

Part live and part studio recordings are blended together nicely. There's an amazing array of styles on dispaly with that typical Swedish sound being very prominent.

Having ties with Bo Hanson you can imagine what to expect really as the music is not too different to his own.except this is more experimental. Hansson even plays on one song "Bosse" himself, which for me is the highlight of the album, being a great jam of a track. Incidentally there's also an excerpt from Hansons "Lord of The rings" on " Tysta Finskan".

A fine album then with a good recording to boot.


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Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Gånglåten (6:51)

2. Tysta Finskan (14:02)

3. Gunnars Dilemma (2:10)

4. Bengans Vals (0:59)

5. Bosses Låt (5:46)

6. Räva (1:34)

7. Uppsala Gård (2:39)

8. Musik Från Liljevalchs (6:40)

Line-up / Musicians - Bengt Dahlèn / Guitar, Violin, Vocals

- Gunnar Bergsten / Saxophone

- Sten Bergman / Organ, Flute

- Per Bruun / Bass

- Erik Dahlbäck / Drums

Guest musicians:

- Ove Gustavsson / Bass (4,7)

- Bosse Hansson / Organ (4), Cowbell (1,2)