MADE IN SWEDEN

Being recorded im 1969 means that the sound is very dated, but for this kind of psychedelic music, so jazzy and blues influenced I can't imagine it sounding differently. The lineup includes Georg Wadenius, later with the Finnish genius Pekka Pohjola.

The album scores around 30 minutes only, but it's time well spent for the listener. The opener and title track has the singular characteristic of crazy vocals closing each phrase and is mainly a blues with the inclusion of an electric violin with a sort of wah wah. The bass is remarkable too. Clean, it doesn't do anything special but itperfectly fit for purpose, and also the guitar riff is very good.

It looks like in 1969 nobody could record an album without including a Bob Dylan's cover. The band chose "Lay Lady Lay", arranged as instrumental. Honestly, this one is skippable. Good as soundtrack for a TV documentary or something like this. Nothing more.

Discotheque People is very interesting, instead. Vocals are almost speeched on a slow funky base. Good solos by guitar and violin for an excellent instrumental part. Give Me Whisky is a Hendrixian song based on a bass riff. A sort of acid blues interrupted by a psychedelic part quite similar to the final of Pink Floyd's Bikem then it reprises with vocal and guitar in synch as typical in rock-blues and in jazz. It's the kind of song that I liked to listen in some "situations" when I was young.

If you are wondering why this band is featured on PA under "Jazz/rock Fusion", "Kristallen Den Grymma" tells you why. It's a very nice jazzy track on which all the players find space for their virtuosity. On this track I find the bassist particularily remarkable. Since now on the album is Jazz-rock. "Little Cloud" is a very good rock-blues while Big Cloud is more funky.

So it's a very enjoyable album. Nicely, my one is the second review of this album and reading the other one I think it's funny that the track which I say "it's skippable", is the favorite of the other reviewer and vice versa. It demonstrates that our reviews shouldn't be taken too seriously, but we agree about the overrll rating.

4 stars

This was taking place in 1969, actually before prog was a concept of fame. Made in Sweden was a well known Swedish fusion band in the late sixties and early seventies led by guitar virtuoso Georg (Jojje) Wadenius. This record is their second (of four) and contains lot of interesting compositions. I am not very into jazz but I can enjoy new combinations and odd structures as well as anything else.

"Snakes in a hole" the title track is very innovative with a screaming violin and some rock'n'roll tendencies. Wadenius sings and everybody warble in a nice way. "Lay lady lay" is perhaps the best track, a harmonic and a bit symphonic piece with a pure an clear feeling. "Little Cloud" is also a favourite, unusual song and harmony. That is a track I'll recommend. Over all I think this music is too low-key, not as distinct as a would wish. Also there is to many blues influences for my taste like in "Discoteque people". This record has some interesting themes and skillful musicians but the result is too weak. But remember this is an early record, many prog giants were not musically born yet.

This was MADE IN SWEDEN's third studio album released in 1970 and they had also released a live album before this too. Some call this Swedish Proto-Prog but certainly this is Jazzy, Psychedelic and at times Bluesy. They were a trio who caught a break on their first tour of the UK when they opened for COLOSSEUM. Actually Tony Reeves from COLOSSEUM would produce this album after his band broke up. He releated how that he and his band members arrived at this little club outside of London and MADE IN SWEDEN were already on stage playing and so this was their first time hearing them. "...everybody in our band was really surprised and excited by the music that we heard MADE IN SWEDEN play. We got talking during the interval, met again on a couple of gigs during their tour of England, and arranged that I would record this album with them in England soon after I left COLOSSEUM". I should note that Tony prior to this had already decided to leave COLOSSEUM to be a Producer.

They recorded this at Olympic Studios in London and Tony enlisted the services of noted Jazz musician and arranger Neil Ardley who had already worked with Tony and COLOSSEUM on their "Valentine Suite" record. Neil took care of the arrangements on "Mad River" and "Blind Willie" and was helped by Tony on "Chicago, Mon Amour". Sadly this band broke up in the early months of 1971. Georg the guitarist / organist / pianist and Tommy the drummer would go on to form a band called SOLAR PLEXUS which would last one album then Georg would go on to join American band BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS. Tommy would pursue his dream of becoming a Formula One driver, eventually he switched to trucks becoming the European truck racing champion four times. Georg would bring MADE IN SWEDEN back to life for one more album bringing in the great Pekka Pohjola formerly of WIGWAM to play bass and also drummer Vesa Aaltonen formerly of TASAVALLAN PRESINDENTTI.

"Winter's A Bummer" is the only track with mellotron on it played by Bo the bass player. This is catchy and Jazzy with vocals. Nice prominant bass and I like the guitar outbursts. After 1 1/2 minutes it settles down to a Bluesy style with those pitch bending mellotron parts. Great section ! It kicks back in at 3 1/2 minutes. Excellent song. "You Can't Go Home" is an uptempo vocal track with energetic drumming. Great track ! "Mad River" is actually the name they called this album when they released it in England, while in Scandanavia they called it "Made In England". Love this song. They slow the pace down and it's simply a beautiful track with floating organ, intricate guitar and vocals. "Roundabout" opens with these Chinese sounding notes which were actually made from a custom Les Paul with a piece of cardboard stuck to the strings. It kicks in with vocals and this is such a feel good song for me. Relaxed and easy going. Beautiful stuff.

"Chicago, Mon Amour" opens with Spanish sounding guitar melodies as the vocals come in singing about San Francisco and flowers in your hair. Sound familiar ? Different of course but this is a folky track. "Love Samba" is the longest track at 7 1/2 minutes and it opens with some killer bass and percussion as the vocal melodies join in. So good ! A change after a minute as it slows down. Great Fusion sounds here. A drum solo after 3 minutes that lasts before 5 minutes where it turns Jazzy again with those vocal melodies like earlier. Killer track ! "Blind Willie" is a Jazzy / Bluesy tune with horns and vocals. "Little Cloud" is fantastic with the bass player offering up a solo with his eight string bass done through a Leaslie speaker. Love the vocals and guitar here too. Another amazing tune.

Yeah this is a must-have for you Jazz & related fans out there. I'm so glad these have been added here at PA. A solid 4 stars.