KATTVALS

One of those rare examples of Swedish prog that went mostly unnoticed at the time of release but has become somewhat of an underground classic ever since. This all-instrumental band was named after a well-known Swedish 1924 novel by Birger Sjöberg entitled KVARTETTEN SOM SPRÄNGDE (The Quartet That Exploded) and was formed in Öreboro. Despite it's misleading namesake, KVARTETTEN SOM SPRÄNGDE was actually only a trio that consisted of Finn Sjöberg (guitar, bass, flute), Fred Hellman (keyboards) and Rune Carlsson (drums) who together released their one and only album KATTVALS (Cat Waltz) on the little-known Gump label and then just like their namesake exploded into the annals of history never to be heard from again. Isn't the world of music wonderful? You can call yourself one thing and be another!

A strange edition to the world of prog in the year 1973, KATTVALS was more steeped in the late 1960s sounds of Hansson & Karlsson organ sounds and the jamming styles of Fläsket Brinner along with a busy percussive drive reminiscent of the Latin rock of the American band Santana. The odd thing is that the album actually sounds more like a proto-prog album than it does anything resembling the peak year of ambitious prog that included albums such as Yes' "Tales From Topographic Oceans" and Jethro Tull's "A Passion Play." The album has become legendary for its strong C-3 organ sounds, Ludwig kit and 50-watt Marshall head with a home-built cabinet which gave the album a down to Earth sound and an intimacy that reminded many of the easier to listen music days of the 1960s.

The album featured seven tracks that mixed jazz rock with heavy 60s organ dominated psych all laid out in an instrumental procession of various melodic explosions of catchiness. The similarities to Sweden's first prog duo Hansson & Karlsson are striking as the organ tones evoke that same immediacy and demand your attention as well as the fuzz guitar beckoning you in for a nice psyched up ride. The trio was fairly improvisational in its approach and the tracks on this one were pretty much put together on the spot. The band was notorious for is live shows but didn't really exist for a long period of time. It's actually a bit of a mystery as to when the band formed and when it exploded into disbandment. Despite the album's cult status over the years, the album still remains a bit difficult to track down at decent prices as well.

This isn't what i'd call demanding prog rock in the least as it really sounds like it should have emerged around 1968 or even 1969 but the music is so pleasantly designed and the trio is so talented at making their instrumentation weave together so brilliantly that it's hard not to like this one. The atmosphere is electric and i'm a sucker for those organ tones. The guitar playing and percussion are also above average. The only other time this trio recorded together was as the backing band on Bertn Staf's "Valhall" album of the same year. Sure it's a bit cheesy, it's a bit dated and certainly not what you would expect for the year 1973 but there's just something about this album that i find mesmerizing. Maybe it's that album cover art of the cheetah that i find so endearing. Whatever the case, it's a fun one! Just don't expect anything overly complex or flashy. This is about rockin' the melodies 60s organ-drenched psych style.