HORIZONT

Horizont (don't be confused with other bands with same name) were a swedish band from late '70. They released 2 albums, the first one selftitled from 1978 is the best, and to me one of the most intresting one from swedish prog school from late '70s.

Gone unnoticed in prog circles, while it containing some great instrumental parts and good vocals, the band producing 2 well known musicians, specially in Sweden, Tommy Nilsson as singer and Jonas Isacsson who later one will work with Roxette.

The music offered is progressive rock of course with symphonic elements thrown in some hard prog here and there, well is done with taste and played pretty well. Some fantastic vocal lines and instrumental sections on opening track Gammal, it sounding like a cross between Kaipa and Atlas (both from Sweden active same period). Samtal vid horizonten is more like how sounded Kerrs Pinks, Kaipa or Camel, pretty good, the guitars and keyboards are excellent.

Vredens timme is maybe my fav track together with the opening one, it has a hard rock rhythmic sections with superb keyboards added, really really good.

All in all sad unnoticed album, for me a winning late '70 prog release from all sides and an excellent art work aswell. Never released on CD so far and is a damn shame really, so many albums from Sweden were re issued and this one got under the radar.

4 stars easy, if you like Kaipa, Camel, Kerrs Pink, Atlas, swedish prog school specially, try it, worth it, this kinda of sound will be omni present in The Flower Kings, Kaipa more recent albums, and even Spock's Beard, Beardfish sound and so on.

Little-known Progressive/Art-Rock act from Stockholm performing during late-70's.Horizont became mostly known for including famous Swedish dinger Tommy Nillson and later Roxette guitarist Jonas Isacsson in the line-up.Rest of the crew were keyboardist Christian Rosenberg, bassist Tommy Gällhagen and drummer Thomas Lögren.Their debut of the same name was released in 1977 on CBS Records.

Excellent mix of classic Swedish Symphonic Rock and light Fusion with some pop sensibilities thrown in is the style met in Horizont's debut, a work full of growing emotions and ethereal but edgy musicianship.There is a strong amount of KAIPA influence throughout the album, especially in the instrumental parts: Magnificent melodic guitar work, smooth use of keyboards with moog synth, piano and organ and fine Swedish vocal lines.But there is also some typical late-70's Fusion met in the compositions, as some of the solos are strongly based on Rosenberg's synths and clavinet along with the funky bass lines of Gallhagen.Few of the tracks have also some more straightforward vocal-parts with good energy.The combination is fascinating and the band knew definitely how to produce first-class compositions with strongly- linked different themes.

To my ears Horizont played back in 1977 what SPOCK'S BEARD or even more THE FLOWER KINGS would present some 20 years later.A unique and totally progressive combination of unsimilar soundscapes with influences from all the prog spectrum.And they played it really good.Highly recommended.