KEBNEKAISE/II SRS 4618 (-73) SWEDEN

Earlier I've posted a bunch of English folk rock albums. Now it's time for one with Swedish folk rock and that's something rather different. Although the origin of the branches may have been similar, Britain early became a part of the European cultural life, adopting song models from church music and common ballads floroushing on the continent in medieval times - melodic structures still influential to modern western music. Swedish culture was isolated from Europe for a very long time, especially the northern parts, there was less amalgamation and the ancient melodic structures remained in some form. With modern terminology they have been descibed as building on an "harmonic minor scale", but often there are no fixation to major or minor. Originally all numbers were instrumentals, inherited through the centuries within a special class of musicians - "spelemän" - in older times wanderers and outcasts, sometimes believed to be in possession of magical powers with the ability to spellbound people through their music. One song on this album "Horgalåten" is surrounded by a legend that it was written by The Devil himself and as he played it the people couldn't stop dancing, but kept on till only skeletons remained. It's a remain from a time when the music itself was a direct interpreter of feelings - no words needed. Four of the songs builds on those old folk tunes, the fifth is self-penned in the same style. The backing is more psych/prog than ordinary folk rock with prominent bass/drum, bongos, fiddle and assorted effects. Main melodies, originally played on "key harp" (Nordic variation of the lira) or fiddle, are transformed to electric guitar. Some of the licks seems impossible, but lead guitarist Kenny Håkansson manage just fine. It's a very attractive balance between emotional traditional tunes and cool experimental prog. Recording is quite simple with few overdubs and the audio top notch. Issued by the independent label Silence Records. On CD 2001 (SRSCD 3608). First press with label as shown here and thin glossy cover. (SCÄ*)(CCÖ*)(NÅY*)