MADE IN SWEDEN – Where Do We Begin (Love, 1976)

English vocals, instrumental

International relevance: ***

After five albums (depending on how you count – Jojje Wadenius' children's record ”Goda' goda' from 1969 is effectively a Made In Sweden album too), Made In Sweden split and Jojje Wadenius opted for an international career with Blood, Sweat And Tears. Upon returning to Sweden, he reformed Made In Sweden in 1976 with entirely different musicians, former Solar Plexus vocalist Tommy Körberg, Polish expatriate and keyboardist Wlodek Gulgowski (Pop Workshop) and Finnish bass player Pekka Pohjola (Wigwam) and his compatriot Vesa Aaltonen (Tasavallan Presidentti) on drums. So if it was a fair move of Wadenius to call this outfit Made In Sweden is up for debate, especially since it sounds quite different to original band's energetic and inventive brand of jazz rock.

Of course ”Where Do We Begin” wears its jazz rock characteristics on its sleeve, but in a full on prog fusion style which is less playful than the early Made In Sweden albums. The musicianship is top notch as anyone could tell just by looking at the names on the back cover, but with a few rare exceptions (you can count Körberg's powerhouse performance on ”Pop-Poem” among those) it's as boring as spending your summer holiday in a wardrobe.

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