KAIPA

This little known band at the time of recording their first album (at least outside Sweden) featured a very young Roine Stolt on the lead guitar (only nineteen then). He is of course not the leader of the band, but for sure that this symphonic sounds are going to draw him much later to form the better known "Flower Kings".

I discovered "Kaipa" some four years ago (thanks to PA) and I was very curious to listen to their early work. The music played here is quite different. Combining folk passages with beautiful and pure symphonic prog.

I guess that we can say that the early "Kaipa" is really one of the precursor of the Swedish prog scene and that its influence is obvious. The music from their debut album is original, full of tact, melodic and inspired. Almost instrumental, it features some Swedish vocals.

My fave song is the sweet and wonderful "Ankaret". But, at times, the band also displays stronger passages: jazzy and rocking "Allting Har Sin Bjan" for instance.

But it is definitely in their symphonic repertoire that I can find most of the emotions. In this respect, just have a listen to "Se Var Morgon Gry". Extremely emotional and peaceful, it is so harmonious, so beautiful that it almost sounds as if it was coming out of the Italian symph repertoire. My highlight. A fantastic song, really.

The final part of this album is less brilliant and therefore I rate it with three stars only. But "Kaipa" will release better albums later.