Instrumental, English vocals
International relevance: ** / ***
One of several studio bands to feature
buddies Jan Schaffer and Björn J:son Lindh, but the Baltik album credits
include a number of celebrities such as Anders Nordh, Malando Gassama, Göran Lagerberg and Bengan
Dahlén. Swedish pop star Tomas Ledin also makes one of his earliest appearances here. The album
isn't very good, at times sounding like a post ”Hair”
musical. The best track is Janne Schaffer's ferocious intro song
”Leslie Briggs”, but some people will probably warm to ”Round
and Round” and ”No Registration, Please” as well.
Following a year after Baltik, Ablution's eponymous album is sometimes
described as an informal follow-up. It's true insofar J:son Lindh, Schaffer, Gassama, drummer Ola Brunkert and
British bass player John Gustafson (Quatermass, Hard Stuff, John Du Cann et al) can be heard on both albums. But it's also misleading as they're
different beasts altogether, with the all instrumental ”Ablution” being closer to prog
and fusion. Ten minute closing track "The Visitor" revels in an unnerving, creeping atmosphere that's very unusual to albums in this genre. The album seems a bit overlooked to me, which is a pity as it's good and way more vital and imaginative than your average stale air
jazz rock. These guys enjoy their work and let it show. Well worth
hearing, although vinyl copies are getting scarce and a reissue is long overdue.
Ablution full album playlist
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