INGET NYTT UNDER SOLEN

"Nothing new under the sun?" remarked Elektra's president during a meeting with the band members in 1976. Amused at that statement while in the midst of their creative and performing peak, Kaipa used the phrase for the title of their second record. It's not terribly surprising the LP was not imported outside of Scandinavia when released but it is unfortunate, and reason to appreciate the global and timeless reach the internet age has provided. This is grade-A symphonic rock, at times musically outdoing acts like Triumvirat in its quest for Prog sideshow greatness on the Continent and making better-known ones as Nektar seem amateurish. Kaipa were young (Stolt looking as cherubic as ever), the new instruments and devices were factory fresh, they didn't care much about money, and fame seemed to be a silly byproduct. Bergman, Eriksson, Lundin and Stolt worked hard on continuously refining their material and arrangements even when times were hard. They didn't consider themselves virtuosos and, much like Pink Floyd, would prepare carefully schemed music that could be recorded in pieces, and this is where their strength laid. Plus the Musea reissue has some sweet extras.

The obligatory cosmic cloud slowly opens 'Skenet Bedrar', a majestic 21-minute enormity spanning five movements of gentle heraldings, delightful kidplay with Hans Lundin's faux kinderclavier, and some really fine development that takes its time. If you can ignore the man occasionally yelling in Swedish and a brief appearance of God, this is a real accomplishment of symphonic rock 'n roll. Magisterial 'Korstag' and equally stately 'Dagens Port' hint at early Genesis followed by the strange amalgams of the title cut. Of special interest are four roughly mixed (but remixed and very clean) English versions of tracks sung by Lars Hoflund, a sort of Bon Scott-meets-Peter Gabriel doing a good job interpreting the vocals. Plus a live take of behemoth 'Skenet Bedrar' and little lost treasure 'Fran det ena till det andra' restored from a damaged tape.

Excellent in the context of 1970s Scandi-prog, Kaipa could've been a global contender though I hate to think how they might've gone had that happened. Sometimes it's better for the fan when the band never got the exposure they deserved.