Saturday, July 28, 2018

RAGNARÖK – Ragnarök (Silence, 1976) / Fjärilar i magen (Silence, 1979) / Fata Morgana (Silence, 1981)

Like Kung Tung, Ragnarök came from Kalmar (Ragnarök guitarist Peter Bryngelsson has played in both bands) but their sound is vastly different, with the latter at best creating a web of lyricism and introspective mystery. They were founded in 1972, turned professional in 1975 and appeared at Alternativfestivalen, the protest manifestation against the Eurovision Song Contest that year.

Ragnarök (Silence, 1976)
Instrumental
International relevance ***
 
This is a thing of beauty, different in style but related in mood to Bo Hansson's albums post ”Sagan om ringen”. ”Ragnarök” floats in a beautiful mind sphere, with lightly soaring guitars and transparent flute leading the way to inner paths through sunlit birches and beeches. A tranquil excitement permeates the album, and the effect is soothing but never in a cheap new age kind of way. Instead: dreamlike, with lovely colours infused by a sense of sweet synaesthetic hyperreality Evocative.

Fjärilar i magen (Silence, 1979)
Instrumental
International relevance: ***

After the elevated beauty of ”Ragnarök”, the band returned with ”Fjärilar i magen” and an opening track to tear you right out of the relaxed state of their debut album. ”Adrenalin” sounds like something out of King Crimson's oeuvre circa 1973. Actually a reference valid to the rest of the album as well – it's much heavier than their previous release. Sometimes ”Fjärilar i magen” makes me think of what Kebnekajse could have been like had they been closer to prog rock than folk rock. Even the softer parts of ”Fjärilar i magen” have a greater density than the lucid debut album. A very good album, although not as captivating as their debut.

Fata Morgana (Silence, 1981)
Instrumental
International relevance: ***

Two years further away from ”Ragnarök” and the sound has become even more prog rock with more instruments, including synthesizers and saxophones. There are even some fusion moves to drag ”Fata Morgana” down below the usual Ragnarök level. It's OK for a 1981 release, but after one excellent album and one very good one, this is ultimately disappointing.

Ragnarök made another album for Silence in 1983, the partially vocal ”3 Signs” (steer clear of that one!) before disbanding in 1984. They have reunited several times after that, and are currently active. They've released several albums after their reunion. Selections from two Tonkraft shows for Swedish Radio were released as part of ”Progglådan”, and there are at least four Tonkraft sessions of various length from 1974 to 1981.

Ragnarök full album playlist
from Fata Morgana
Fata Morgana 

No comments:

Post a Comment