FAMILJESPRICKOR

More people need to hear this album. This just may be the greatest prog album from 1980. I can think of a few contenders, but almost nobody was making progressive rock as good as this that year. This album has something in common with both Abbey Road and Red: all three were recorded just before the bands called it quits. All three albums also happen to be amongst the best things all three groups did. Around 1977 Samla Mammas Manna changed their name(a little) and shortly after became part of the Rock-In-Opposition movement. As ZMM they released two albums. They disbanded in 1980. SMM founder/keyboardist/accordionist Lars Hollmer(RIP) continued on with Von Zamla.

The music on Familjesprickor is a mix of fusion, hard rock, symphonic prog, polka, Swedish folk music and avant-rock. It's very playful but much more serious sounding than anything SMM did. Unlike SMM there are few vocals here. The most notable exception would be the song "Pappa(With Right Of Veto)". This song is the greatest example of Swedish reggae I have ever heard. It is also the only example of Swedish reggae I have ever heard. Recorded live, it's a great little tune. Another song with vocals, and one of the best songs here, is "The Farmhand"(which you can listen to on PA). The vocals here sound like the Smurfs with rabies. While the music sounds like a polka song performed by fusion virtuosos.

"The Thrall" is the most avant piece here. Parts of it remind me of Crimson's "Indiscipline". "The Forge" was later reworked as the Von Zamla song "Forge Etude". The version here is far better. Another highlight is the first song "Five Single Combats". I love Hollmer's synths on this one. The other songs are good too. This would be a great introduction to Avant-Prog. Apart from "The Thrall" there is nothing very avant here. A really good, fairly consistent and well produced album. Familjesprickor(or Family Cracks if you wish) is an album worthy of 4.5. Because of "The Thrall" and "Pappa" I can't say that this is a masterpiece of prog, so this gets a very solid 4 stars.