KAIPA

Kaipa create a beautiful melancholy sound and were blessed with incredibly talented musicians on their debut self titled album. Ingemar Bergman on percussion, and Tomas Eriksson on bass, provide an excellent rhythm. Lead vocalist Hans Lundin is an instrumental genius on Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Grand piano, Yamaha SY1 Synthesizer, Harpsichord, Logan String-machine, and Glockenspiel. To cap this off is the main drawcard for many who come to this album and for good reason. The incomparable Roine Stolt is here on Electric and acoustic guitars. This is years ahead of his famous input with The Flower Kings, and Transatlantic. He became a prog legend in these bands and it is fascinating to hear his early work with Kaipa at the tender age of 19. He also painted the album cover illustration depicting an astral traveller floating over a dreamy landscape.

The album is very relaxing and refreshing, nothing abrasive or heavy unless you can call those Hammond passages heavy such as on 'Saker har två sidor (Things have two sides)'. The vocals are in Swedish and sound quite lovely overall. A great deal of the album is instrumental, sounding like ELP or Camel, Renaissance. Focus and Yes.

'Ankaret (The Anchor)' has a majestic opening and Stolt's guitars are heavenly. The music is very peaceful and even slightly medieval. The presence of the Hammond is strong and one cannot help but be reminded of Emerson's style. There are many time changes but the mood is always uplifting and enchanting. At times the tempo quickens to allow Stolt to take off on lead, but the cadence soon softens with mellow synths and basslines.

This album sounds neo-classical at times, with familiar melodies and sweeping majesty. Overall the music tends to wash over the listener and it is an enjoyable journey, a chill out album to relax with, one of Sweden's finest symphonic albums without a doubt.

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