SAGAN OM RINGEN [AKA: MUSIC INSPIRED BY LORD OF THE RINGS]

I heard this album recently. I must say I was a bit fed up with this Lord Of The Rings fascination among musicians (even if I did like german metallers Blind Guardian version of the same fascination). So I was not really willing to listen to it for a while. But since Bo Hansson was the very first (or among the first) to do such work, I feel like giving him a shot. Tthe results sounded to me like a soundrtack album from the late 60´s: lots of psychedelic keys and guitars, a few wind instruments and good drums.

A very good soundtrack, I should say, since soundtracks are not really my cup of tea. And still I like it. Although it was planned to be an album with vocals on it, it seems that Tolkien´s State did not granted permission to do so. I wonder how it would have sound if lyrics were allowed. However, I must admit taht, most of the time, it works. It does ring better than most of the works I heard based on the famous book. I don´t think this is a masterpiece in any way, noe anything esential in any prog music collectio. But it is still very good, specially if you like late 60´s instrumentals (I do). The music in general is well composed, well played and the production is ok for the time. I really love the organ sound and the more melodic themes, like The Grey Heavens. The presence of a good electric guitar in several songs is a nice surprise for a keyboardsman solo efford.My CD copy is the extended version with a few additional tracks that are worth having them.

All in all a very good CD of the time. It spurred my curiosity to get to know his other works.

Final rating: 3,5 stars.