EL-AHRAIRAH [AKA: MUSIC INSPIRED BY WATERSHIP DOWN]

Including a track based on Watership Down on Attic Thoughts (AKA Mellanväsen) evidently inspired Bo Hansson to produce an entire album based on the book, much like his debut was based on J.R.R. Tolkien's work. Music Inspired By Watership Down (AKA El-Ahrairah) is an interesting mix of the mildly funk influenced symphonic jams of Attic Thoughts or Magician's Hat with the mystical approach of Lord of the Rings, and for my money it's Hansson's most accomplished and cohesive work since his debut, the concept apparently helping to focus his efforts. Apparently this would be Bo's last full-on prog album - the mid-1980s comeback album Mitt I Livet being a very different affair from his earlier albums - but as far as swan songs go it's a credible enough effort, though once again it feels a little generic.