KATTVALS

The name of this band most likely comes from the 1926 Birger Sjöberg novel bearing the same name. Briefly told, the story evolves around a string quartet from a small town in Sweden that starts speculating in the stock market. Kattvals means cat waltz... Alright I´m glad we got that out of the way, and now since all things are about as clear as mud - let´s be on our way to this delicious little place in space and time, where the Hammond organ bubbles like sleeping crocodiles. Whatever hidden meaning there might be behind this album - it simply eludes me. No matter though, because this album doesn´t need an overall coherence apart from the tracks that musically all seem close like family. It´s through and through instrumental, although the organ runs together with the delicately played guitar solos basically work as lead vocals.

If you enjoy the organ playing of John Lord and Vincent Crane mixed up with a sleepy Carlos Santana, who just got back from Woodstock still mildly overpowered by the brown acid that just earlier had led him to believe that his Gibson SG was a serpent, - then by all means jump on board this Swedish ear massage. It´s not the most innovative thing out there, and by 1973 the hard rock trio consisting of drums, guitar and organ was starting to wear a bit thin, BUT Kattvals works none the less.

From the Santanaesque starter to the folky Gånglåt från Valhallavägen, that reminds me of Swedish band Kebnekaise, - all these tunes share a common goal: Make it swing and flow - make it sound eloquent and soothing like cool yogurt on your painful sun burnt scrotum. There´s no fuzz or deliberate attempts to make "progressive" music here, the album just goes without any hold ups or hesitations, which leads way to its biggest attribute. It´s honest and it does not pretend to be a continuation or a rehash of any of the formerly mentioned artists.

Just to paint a better picture of this record, I´ll loosely transcript the sounds of the title song Kattvals. The warm and jazzy drums lays down the beat with a stuttering organ rhythmically dancing its way into the track. Then a subtle bass appears gently inducing the track - adding depth and contours to the Hammond organ that by now is singing like Placido Domingo with a mouth full of olive oil. The guitar suddenly heads out of the background - serenading like a blue blues, and now we´re really setting off for the land of soft fusion and gummi bears. Like all the different tracks here, it´s the small things that make the music jump and breath - just like putting salt on a tomato and suddenly realizing the actual flavor of such a remarkable fruit(Yes boyo it´s a fruit, no matter how ridiculous that sounds).

Recommended to fans of dim lighting, show-dancing and boat rides on small lakes. If you ever find yourself in the mood for a soundtrack to accompany your Swedish crayfish adventures and those highly intoxicating bottles of Aquavit, then by all means start searching high and low for this charming cat waltz. It´s a playful and friendly kitten this one.

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