TACK FÖR KAFFET

3.5 stars. This is one of a couple of comebacks the band has made over the decades. They are from Sweden and formed in 1969 from the ashes of PARSON SOUND and INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER which is where the bass player and drummer are from on this 2017 album I'm reviewing. The guitarist was also from that early 70's incarnation so these guys have been around. We get a guest bass player from ARCHIMEDES BADKAR playing on the three tracks that the original bass player couldn't be on. The other guest is Reine Fiske adding his guitar talents on four songs and helping with the compositions.

After two studio albums with the last one being in 1972 they didn't get back into the studio for another 30 years releasing an album in 2002 and then in 2009. This 2017 release follows that. The music reminds me of Krautrock and they jam a lot, I mean this is around 71 minutes long over seven tracks and a lot of this is repetitive. Still I like their sound a lot but man they could have dropped the last track along with "Money" a silly tune with vocals that doesn't sound like it belongs at all and the closer "Farewell" that trips along without much happening for 14 1/2 minutes. The album's title translates to "So long" and with the title of the closer thrown in clearly this is an album to close out their careers. But no they have released another record since this one with Fiske back on board.

The opener "E Moll Slow" like the closer plods and trips along but this at least has more going on but then it's also 20 minutes long. My favourite song is "Coffee And Cake" because it has a Jazz Fusion feel to it early on believe it or not. It's surprising all the intricate sounds after 2 minutes. Love the guitar before 4 minutes.

This album is just too long and samey for my tastes but it really does work as background music and I really like that Krautrock vibe.