MELLANVÄSEN [AKA: ATTIC THOUGHTS]

"Lord of the Rings" aka "Sagan Om Ringen" is without a doubt BO HANSSON's best known and best selling album, but he's released other albums worth checking in to. Like this one, entitled "Mellanväsen", better known as "Attic Thoughts" to anyone living outside of Sweden. "Mellanväsen" was once again released on Silence Records, while the versions released outside of Sweden, with the more familiar "Attic Thoughts" title was released on Charisma in Great Britain, and on Sire Records here in America (since Charisma temporarily pulled operations in the US by that time).

He takes that fairytale prog sound from his previous two albums and make it a more professional and sophisticated affair. The synthesizers are better integrated, and for the first time, the string synths rear its head. Here he has various members of KEBNEKAISE helping, including Kenny Håkansson on guitar, as well as Fläsket Brinner members like Gunnar Bergsten on sax, and Sten Bergman on flute, as well as musicians helping him out since the "Lord of the Rings" days like Rune Carlsson on drums. To me, I really think "Attic Thoughts" is one of HANSSON's best. It has less of the undesirable traits of "Lord of the Rings", for example none of the repetition, and still going for that wonderful atmosphere. A certain Jan Ternauld had done the cover artwork for this album, and he was a member of the strange Nordic/Krautrock-influenced combo called ÄLGARNAS TRÄDGARD (whose Framtiden Är Ett Svävande Skepp is truly an album worth looking in to). The Nordic influences of "Attic Thoughts" are well taken care of, I especially love that violin found on "Waltz For Interbeings", which really gives that Nordic feel that I really enjoy of Scandinavian prog albums. Totally amazing album from this often maligned artist.

My rating: 4 1/2 stars