PRIMI

This Swedish band began under the rather ghetto, even hip hop sounding name n Dogz but somewhere along the line since their formation in 2015 changed it to EX CANIX. While emerging from Linköping, Sweden and from the land where prog behemoths like Änglagård, Samla Mammas Manna, The Flower Kings and Anekdoten made their impressions in the prog world, EX CANIX found their inspiration not in the home grown symphonic sounds or even avant-prog but rather looked to their German neighbors in the Krautrock world of the 70s for their primary canvass to paint upon.

Krautrock was of course, the German movement that took British 60s psychedelic rock to even greater extremes but it should be remembered that Sweden was well ahead of the curve with bands like Pärson Sound capturing the same cosmic vibes as far back as 1967-68 long before Amon Duul II and Can were cranking out their own wild and tripped out sounds in Krautrock's heyday of 70-75. EX CANIX takes a lot from the playbook of this era by implementing familiar backbone rhythmic pulsations of Can, the detached spaced out grooves of Amon Duul II and even the jazzier aspects of Kraut emulating Embryo.

The opener "Can You Take Me To Tay Umago" flaunts the Can influences right off the bat. Not only with the clever reference to their famous "Tago Mago" as well as the band's name even included in the title but delivers a Can-esque percussive groove with the same sort of koschmische vibe on their trippiest releases. Add the rather aloof double electronics of Both and Håkke Müller to the mix which brings a rather early Tangerine Dream vibe along for the ride and it seems like a veritable classic German prog tribute right from the bat.

This continues with "Feed The Monster" which continues the freeform groove of bass, rather tribal percussive effects, guitar and electronics but adds special guest Shadow's sultry saxophone to the roster which brings an immediate classic Embryo vibe to the mix. Somewhat unique though is their extensive use of polyrhythms and counterpoints with the keys taking a firm independence streak by creating some off-kilter runs that find themselves in more an avant-prog or Rock In Opposition mood than gently flowing with the rest of the band.

"Slow For You" is a very ominous track as it begins with a spooky mellotron that simulate voices which brings more ethereal King Crimson to mind more than the aforementioned German influences. This one is slow and plodding. Dark and menacing with a dramatic slow doom filled percussive drive. Just add distorted guitar and perfect doom metal! There are also tinges of exotic musical scales lurking in the background. Very spaced out this one which never turns into rock at all but remains a rather airy journey through an electronic creation with a little percussive oomph.

"Out There" changes gears and enters jazz-fusion territory with very jazzy piano chords that quickly become more freeform and atonal while swarms of percussion begin to overtake it. I'm talking an irregular bombast of purposefully misdirected pummelation. It subsides and fades out. "Minetta" sounds like another jazz inspired Krautrock track from the Embryo camp whereas the lengthy ten and a half minute "Dreamland" takes the jazzy aspects of Embryo and marries it with oscillating electronica and tribal Can-like percussive drive. "In The Can," another Can reference, brings some xylophone sounds and jungle animal replications to the forefront with a steady bass groove and tropical island feel.

EX CANIX isn't just a retro prog album of youngsters worshipping their heroes but rather a collection of seasoned musicians who have been playing in different scenes since the 70s therefore a lot of what came from the golden era has carried on to the present. While EX CANIX doesn't really reinvent the wheel in many ways, they managed to create a nice supplemental fix of 70s psychedelia. This is totally instrumental so the cosmic journey throughout the sonic sphere is unimpeded by human linguistics. PRIMI shouldn't be considered cutting edge in any possible way, but it is a great album to simply get lost in and just let the music flow without expectations. Appreciation for the subtleties is what makes this worthy as the tiniest details are what animates this one.

3.5 but i'll round up for this one

Back to Sweden again, enriched with nordic melancholy. This is something captivating, while percussive, hypnotic, trippy, chilled out. Should be filed under (neo) krautrock in the end. What else? Well, others may disagree, okay, maybe reasonable. Seriously, can't fully catch what is going on here, what a wonderful event anyhow! I would say the band FLOWERS MUST DIE is close to this stylistically, if any, in a wider sense. And indeed, they actually do share the drummer, Lars Hoffsten. First of all, the flow is irresistibly gripping on this occasion.

And overall EX CANIX prefer an obvious orientation towards jazz too. And so 'Primi' turns out to be an amalgamation of inspiration and magic. Cinematic somehow, much space for imagination will be provoked. Starting with Can You Take Me To Tay Umago this occasionally transmits me to a trip crossing the sahara riding on a camel somehow, acccompanied by quirky electronics and ethno/world inspired saxophone. Here and there the electric piano playing reminds of Dieter Miekautsch, once playing with Embryo, Real Ax Band, Missus Beastly, amongst others.

The short Out There shows some cheerful piano and percussion collaboration. Minetta then comes close to the proto kraut vibe once delivered by Staff Carpenborg And The Electric Corona in 1970. Maybe the longest excerpt Dreamland should be seen as the album highlight, a favourable statement due to lively electronics and percussion. In The Can - the title says it all - finally shows a tribal drum rhythm but also some weirdness which is more of a Xhol trademark. Very inspired, all tracks started out as improvisations. Fantastic production - 4,5 stars so far.

The term 'ex canix' sounds Latin, and if we modify it slightly, to 'ex canis,' we get something like 'out of the dog' or 'from dog(s).' Makes sense, given the album cover of Ex Canix's Primi (which means 'first' in Italian). But the exact spelling 'canix' apparently does not correspond to any established Latin, Swedish, Italian, or English word. When 'canix' is used on the internet, it refers to an athletic pursuit involving running with dogs ('canicross') - - or to cannabis, which also seems fitting for a group that describes themselves as 'get[ing] together in their collective inner space community for travels across the dimensions of mind and sound.' Actually, that's a pretty good characterization of Primi. Ex Canix also claims that they 'travel from Stone Age to Outer Space and back as a community.' 'Stone Age' - - get it?

Anyway, my first experience with Ex Canix was listening to their 2019 album Shaman, which, in comparison to Primi, is much more focused. If both albums are intended to take the listener on a journey, it almost seems like Primi is the tour guides' first trip - - that the proverbial blind are leading the blind.

For example, on 'Feed the Monster,' the off-kilter drumming and percussion, combined with the the upbeat sax improvisation, is miles from the hypnotic mystery of Shaman's similarly rhythmic 'Raga Muffin.' And Primi's 'Out There' sounds experimental for the sake of experimentation. On the other hand, 'Slow for You' and 'Dreamland' are more successful at balancing experimentation and purpose, although this balance is improved further on Shaman.

Compared to Shaman, Primi is surprisingly jazzy in places - - on the opening passages of 'Feed the Monster' and 'Out There,' for example; and both 'Dreamland' and 'Minetta' have a jazzy feel throughout. These two are my favorites, along with the opening track, 'Can You Take Me to Tay Umago.' 'Can You Take Me' also answers the question as to why Ex Canix was initially classified as Krautrock on Prog Archives - - it's a freakout along the lines of early Tangerine Dream or Ash Ra Tempel.

The fairest rating for Primi is three stars, but as I'm sure you can tell, I suggest that listeners give Shaman a try first.