Splash was a band founded in Söderhamn 1969,
initially with a strong influence from Blood Sweat & Tears and
similar acts, but their music grew increasingly intreresting by each
album. Their debut however was an unremarkable self-produced single in 1972, ”Gobby's
Train” b/w ”Way Up North”. Their full length debut followed later the same year and they soon earned a dedicated following in Norway, Belgium and former Czechoslovakia.
Ut på vischan! (Polydor, 1972)
Swedish vocals
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **
Signing to Polydor, Splash benefitted
from the higher production values after the relatively primitive
debut single. ”Ut på vischan!” is competent in every regard. It
has a few prog moves, but has vague hints at Kebnekajse styled folk
harmonics on the best track ”Smutsig jord” (with some appealing
guitar work). But there's no mistaking early Splash was a horn rock
band at heart, with ”Ut på vischan!” sounding like a poor man's
Solar Plexus. It ought to please genre fans but others should listen
before paying the relatively high prices asked for the album, and
better yet, look out for their later albums.
Splash's Polydor deal ended abruptly
after a truly terrible 45 of two cover choices including Edgar
Winter's ”Keep Playin' That Rock'n'Roll”.
Splash (PLA, 1974)
Instrumental, wordless vocals
International relevance: ***
International relevance: ***
Splash released their first of two self-titled albums on their own
PLA imprint. Self-released, it sounds professional enough, and here
it's clear they were aiming at a new style. The side-long
”Karottorokokrockokrokorock (Elephant Nilson)” (say that fast)
touches on Uriah Heep (not good), symphonic rock, prog, jazz and
avantgarde during its 20+ minutes, while ”Tiokronorspolskan”
adapted from Hjort Anders Olsson's vast catalogue of classic fiddle
tunes is similar to Skäggmanslaget with Contact backing them.
”Sambahmadu” adds an Latin-cum-African flavour thanks to
percussionist Ahmadu Jarr. Overall a much more interesting and rewarding effort
than ”Ut på vischan!” Brilliant and eye-catching cover art by Ardy Strüwer.
1974 also saw the release of two Splash
seven inches. The first of them featured more Uriah Heep heaviness on
”Orangutang Boomerang”, backed with the rather excellent ”Sunday
Ride”, with lyrics by German born Swede Linus Kal X Blue (who made
garage rock history with Something Wild's ”Trippin' Out” 45 in
1966). The second 1974 Splash single was recorded as a backing band
to the incredibly annoying folk singer Maritza Horn.
Splash (a.k.a. Splash 2) (PLA, 1978)
Instrumental
International relevance: ***
Four years down the line and Splash's
music had developed a lot. Opening track ”Variations on polska &
hoppdans” is an occasionally atonal clash of styles – traditional
folk tunes, fusion, cajun and what not. ”Nina” is furious fusion
that works. ”El Greco” sounds like Zappa in the Near East. ”Hueå”
is back in horn rock territory, but with a twist (of Zappa).
The only relatively straight track here is ”Snusa” which also
happens to be the least exciting selection (but with still more Zappa
in the guitar department). Engineered by Mikael Ramel and hands down their most satisfying album.
Another Maritza Horn single appeared in
1975 (funky but bad), and a 1974
Tonkraft session circulates in good sound. Splash disbanded in 1979. A meaty 5CD box set of their complete recordings plus previously unreleased material was released in 2018, "Splash 1970-1979 (Samtliga inspelningar)".
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