MADE IN SWEDEN/SNAKES IN A HOLE SLP-2504 (-69) SWEDEN

Their 1968 debute https://monolover.blogspot.com/2014/09/made-in-sweden-with-love-slp-71-68.html was an exemple how the prog genre emerged at the time. Stretching towards jazz, but still with one foot in the band's earlier incarnation - the r&b/psych/garage "Lee Riders Group". On this second album the r&b roots are less detectable and the emphasis more on jazz. Same setting, here with Danish violinist Svend Asmussen guesting on two tracks. It has about the same garage feeling as the debute and some of it still comes through as studio jams, but at the same time I get the impression of more targeted and secure recordings. Some of it beautiful, like the instrumental covers of Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" and a Swedish folk tune - "Kristallen Den Grymma". Others uptempo with scat singing, but also parts with a bluesy feel. All tied together by Georg Wadenius' elaborate guitar licks. I really like his octave play - a skill highly regarded back then, but now hardly acknowledged at all. To my taste almost as good as the debute though I miss some of the immediacy. The nude cover design, made by artist Ardy Struwer, was original for the issue and early sleeve pressings are today considedred as collectible as the record itself. Also issued in France with different cover layout (Barclay 920 271). Swedish 2006 CD on Universal (038 153-2) came with three bonus tracks and same sleeve pics as the original. First had label as shown here and laminated fold/out cover. (SCÄ*) (CCÖ*) (SÖNÄ*)