I'm in a mixed mood tonight, so I'll go ahead and throw out another collection.
Swedish prog mixtape
1. Kebnekajse - Leksands brudmarsch
Swedish folk music of yore, interpreted by Kenny Håkansson and his crew in Kebnekajse (named after the highest mountain in Sweden). What better way to commence such a journey than with a slice of the rural life set to the sad tones of the violin in unison with a guitar. This tune originates from the province of Dalarna, obviously composed as a wedding march (hence 'brudmarsch'). This recording however, is from Kebnekajse's third album released in 1975.
2. Blåkulla - Sirenernas song
Blåkulla was formed in the early 70's in Gothenburg and released an eponymous album in 1975. They relied on a heavy organ/guitar interplay but the music itself owes more to the symphonic rock tradition which this track is a good example of. Reminds me of Focus in places.
3. Kaipa - Ankaret
Arguably the best and most renowned symphonic prog act from the land of the ice and snow. Kaipa emerged in Uppsala around 1974, and featured keyboard wiz Hans Lundin who also contributed the soaring Jon Anderson-like vocals, as well as Roine Stolt on guitar who during the recent years has been involved in just about every neo-prog project there is (Flower Kings, Transatlantic, The Tangent and a revived Kaipa, to name a few). Their debut, once again eponymous, was released in 1975 and already showcased their take-no-prisoners approach to the grandiose Yes/Genesis tradition, although with the inescapable swedish feel hinted in a lot of the folk-tinged passages.
4. Atlas - Björnstorp
Instrumental symphonic jazz-fusion with strong Camel-influences. Atlas released one album "Blå vardag" in 1977, but I don't really know much more about them. Apart from that it's a great record.
5. Black Bonzo - Giant games
From the northern coast of Skellefteå we find a small oasis of prog, partly hosted by these guys who maybe are more on the hard rock side of things, but some of the songs bear an obvious progressive influence. This is from their second album "Sound of the apocalypse" released in 2007.
6. Swedish Family/Tomas Bodin - Stoneheart
This is a funny little curiosity. Tomas Bodin is a renowned musician involved in Flower Kings among others, and has released some solo stuff as well. This is from an album which is meant to be a kind of mock-treasure collection of could-have-been-prog tracks allegedly recorded in the 70's and released under the name "Swedish Family". A good mirage it is, released in 2004 but meant to sound like it's covering the years 1969-79. This track is taken from the album "Even harder" released in 1973. Or not.
7. The Carpet Knights - All be the same
Stemming from Malmö in the deep south, The Carpet Knights is a sort of melting pot of musicians otherwise busy with other projects, Svarte Pan and Öresund Space Collective included. Guitar-driven heavy prog, although not that much distortion which is refreshing. This is from their debut album "Lost and so strange is my mind".
8. Dungen - Det tar tid
One of my favourite swedish bands, which I've gabbed about
elsewhere.
9. Villebråd - Alla är här utom jag
Back in Uppsala again, although now in 2007. Villebråd is, what I'd like to call, indie-prog and this is the title track from their debut. Quirky arrangements with chrystal clear guitars and a melancholic indie aura. What's not to like?
10. Moon Safari - The ghost of flowers past
And further northward to... Skellefteå again! Moon Safari pulled all the stops with their album "Blomljud" from 2008, containing some of the finest music recorded during the last decade, honest! Symphonic prog that's simply timeless and the immaculate musicianship and arrangements makes it all the more amazing to realize that this was cooked up in the wintery north during a period were most prog bands strive to ape Marillion and Porcupine Tree. Find. This. Album.